Guarding Minds at Work
Algonquin College Psychological Health & Safety Taskforce enthusiastically announce that we have launched the Guarding Minds at Work Survey. Guarding Minds at Work is a unique survey designed to assess, protect and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace. Guarding Minds at Work resources allow employers to effectively assess and address the 13 psychosocial factors known to have a powerful impact on organizational health, the health of individual employees, and the financial bottom line.
We are asking all employees of Algonquin College to complete this survey from February 18-March 3, 2020 as part of our college-wide review of our workplace psychological health and safety. Employee input is a critical component of this review. This survey contains 68 statements about common work experiences. The statements cover a range of topics including work responsibilities, work relationships, and leadership – it is completely anonymous. Learn more below by reading some FAQ’s. If you would like to request a paper copy of the survey, please contact Sarah Gauen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens to the information provided by participants?
Employee feedback will be used to help improve psychological health and safety at Algonquin College.
This survey is completely anonymous, which means that no identifying information will be gathered, and under no circumstances Algonquin College will be able to trace back the survey to participants or to monitor individual participation in the survey.
Employees can stop completing the survey at any time and the responses will not be recorded.
Furthermore, the responses will be automatically combined with those of many others and summarized in a report to further protect anonymity – individual-level data will not be accessible.
What is Guarding Minds at Work?
Guarding Minds at Work is a unique, fully accessible and free, comprehensive set of resources designed to protect and promote psychological health and safety in the workplace. Guarding Minds at Work resources allow employers to effectively assess and address the 13 psychosocial factors known to have a powerful impact on organizational health, the health of individual employees, and the financial bottom line. Guarding Minds at Work was developed by researchers from the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA) within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University on the basis of extensive research, including data analysis of a national sample and reviews of national and international best practices, as well as existing and emerging Canadian case law and legislation.
Why was Guarding Minds at Work developed?
Resources related to physical health and safety are readily available in most workplaces, but there are very few resources available to help protect psychological health and safety. Guarding Minds at Work was developed to help fill that gap. Guarding Minds at Work provides human resource professionals, managers, supervisors, union representatives, and small or mid-sized business owners the resources they need to effectively assess psychological health and safety in their workplace, undertake appropriate interventions, and measure the effectiveness of their actions. It answers the questions “Where do we begin?” and “Where can we best use our limited resources?” Guarding Minds at Work can also help with the implementation of the National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety.
What is the cost of Guarding Minds at Work?
Guarding Minds at Work is available to all employers – large or small, in the public or private sector – at no cost. Guarding Minds at Work Resources were developed so they could be implemented in-house, without the need for external support. However, for those interested in implementation or facilitation support for Guarding Minds at Work, there are outside consultants who are workplace psychological health and safety experts offering these services.
Who developed Guarding Minds at Work?
Guarding Minds at Work was commissioned by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, funded by the Great-West Life Assurance Company, and developed by experienced research-practitioners from the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA) within the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada (Guarding Minds at Work 2009: Samra, J., Gilbert, M., Shain, M., Bilsker, D.; Guarding Minds at Work 2012: Gilbert, M., Bilsker, D. Shain, M., Samra, J.; Guarding Minds at Work 2018: Gilbert, M., Bilsker, D. Shain, M., Samra, J.).
What is CCOHS’ role in Guarding Minds at Work?
The Guarding Minds at Work website is operated, hosted and maintained by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). CCOHS also provides English and French email and telephone support for Guarding Minds at Work users, in consultation with developers as needed.
CARMHA, the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace, and CCOHS collaborate to increase utilization of Guarding Minds at Work by raising awareness and understanding of Guarding Minds at Work and its importance, and by promoting Guarding Minds at Work as a leading organizational resource supporting psychological health and safety in the workplace.