Almost everyone’s guilty when it comes to moaning about the nine to five, the daily grind that comes with working in a corporate environment.

The problem is that often work doesn’t stick to those hours, because people take both their work and the associated stresses home with them.

By some estimates ‘cutthroat organisations’ spend 50% more on health care for their employees than work spaces with a more lekker vibe. Not only that, but time and time again studies show that unhappy employees are less productive and have a far higher turnover.

QZ have outlined a few key errors in cutthroat organisations, so we’ll take a look at those below:

They overwork people

Overworking good employees is often perplexing to them; it makes them feel as if they’re being punished for a great performance. Overworking employees is also counterproductive.

There’s no empathy

Does your boss really see you as a person and care how you’re doing, or is he only focused on how much work you churn out? More than half of people who leave their jobs do so because of their relationships with their bosses.

They don’t recognise contributions or reward good work

Everyone likes kudos, none more so than those who work hard and give their all. Managers need to communicate with their people to find out what makes them feel good (for some, it’s a raise; for others, it’s public recognition) and then to reward them for a job well done.

There’s no socialising and no fun

People who have strong connections with their colleagues get sick less often, are less likely to become depressed, learn faster, remember more, and simply do a better job.

They make a lot of stupid rules

Whether it’s an overzealous attendance policy or taking employees’ frequent flier miles, even a couple of such unnecessary rules can drive people crazy.

People don’t help each other out

A boss who abdicates responsibility thinks that it’s your problem, not his, and that you alone are responsible for solving it.

Funny how they think your boss is definitely a man, but let’s just smile and move along.

They don’t let people pursue their passions

Talented employees are passionate, and providing opportunities for them to pursue their passions improves their productivity and job satisfaction. Sadly, many managers want people to work within a little box.

Bosses don’t listen

…if conversations between managers and employees never extend beyond TPS reports, and any attempts to ask questions or offer suggestions are rebuffed, the work environment is probably cutthroat.

I’ve never really ventured into the cutthroat corporate world, but from where I’m sitting that looks rather nasty.

We might not get medical here at 2OV, but we’re rocking the Tuesday brekkie and Wednesday lunches for morale. Oh, and we’re all moonwalking out of the office come 4PM, because who really does anything constructive as the day winds down?

As for working in such close proximity to Seth – well, other than the dad jokes and stories about his heyday (yes, we are all well aware you were GQ’s best-dressed man back in 2010) most socialising leans towards the bearable.

On a more serious note there are mountains of evidence that point towards a high stress job leading to an early grave (HERE, for example), and there’s a clear causal link between high stress levels and cancer (HERE).

Basically, you might be working yourself to death in order to provide for your family, which would be cruelly ironic if you don’t have life insurance.

Of course you don’t need to work for The Man (or be a daredevil) to die young, because accidents can strike at any time.

Basically we should all make sure our ducks in a row, no matter what line of work we’re in, so we recommend chatting to the team at 1Life and ensuring peace of mind.

Less stress, better life, good times.

[source:qz]