“The body of scientific knowledge connecting mental health and the organization of work is large, persuasive and of long standing.
Essentially, the evidence says that the precipitation or aggravation of certain mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and burnout can be reasonably foreseen as a consequence of certain contributive organizational practices.
Such practices include the chronic and consistent:
- Imposition of unreasonable demands
- Withholding of adequate levels of materially important information, whether by choice or neglect
- Refusal to allow the exercise of reasonable discretion over the day to day means, manner and methods of work
- Failure to acknowledge or credit contributions and achievements
- Failure to recognize and acknowledge the legitimate claims, interests and rights of others [unfairness]”
(from “Stress at Work, Mental Injury and the Law in Canada: A Discussion Paper for the Mental Health Commission of Canada”)
Read the full paper here: