"Psychology is a tool to manage mental abilities in the workplace."

In the 2023 edition of the report "Join The Workplace Revolution," Coor has surveyed 500 Nordic employers and an equal number of employees about their perspectives on the future of the workplace. In the survey, employers identify the mental well-being of employees at work as the most important area to focus on in the next two years.

Sofia Viotti, a psychologist, speaker, and author who is often engaged by employers to help organizations develop, perform, and thrive, is not surprised by this response. "Often, people contact me when they notice stress in the organization or when employees are caught up in worry and self-criticism. Those who engage my services have become curious about self-compassion and how to help their employees train mentally."

"It is starting to change, but until now, psychology has been seen as something to turn to when someone is not doing well."

She is pleased to see more employers discussing and prioritizing mental health in their workplaces, but she also observes that these efforts often come unnecessarily late. "It is starting to change, but until now, psychology has been seen as something to turn to when someone is not doing well. In such cases, perhaps employees are sent to a psychologist through occupational health care or a motivational speaker is hired for an hour in the hope of a quick fix."

The report "Join The Workplace Revolution" indicates a growing awareness of the importance of the psychosocial work environment. Employers show a strong willingness to adapt and develop their offices into attractive hybrid workspaces where employees feel good and want to be. However, the report also reflects a cautious position in an uncertain socio-economic situation. Over the next two years, the budget for renovations and personnel-related activities will shrink for half of the employers due to economic pressure.

Sofia Viotti warns against allowing a crisis situation in the office to become prolonged. "If you find yourself in a situation of pure firefighting where employees are forced to prioritize rest or training, it may work for a while, but it is unsustainable for the human brain to postpone recovery in the long run. The consequences affect both the individual and the company, and the road back can be long." The task of preparing for a potential economic downturn while also investing in employee well-being is difficult but not impossible.

It should be in the organization's interest to offer knowledge as a tool for work just like providing a computer to do one's job"

Sofia Viotti advises employers who want to engage in this to bring in organizational psychologists who can help companies work in the long term. "We can teach basic knowledge of how the human mind works psychologically, how to take care of oneself, how to break free from stress, and how to avoid getting stuck in unhelpful behaviors such as procrastination", sais Sofia and continues;

"Today, there is too much responsibility placed on the individual to understand these things, but it should be in the organization's interest to offer this knowledge as a tool for work, just like providing a computer to do one's job." Sofia believes that there are also many things that employers can do on their own right here and now to support their employees. "The most important thing is not to guess what is needed for people to feel well. Instead, dare to ask and do it often. A person's situation can change, so what worked well six months ago may no longer work," says Sofia and continues, "It is common for managers to hesitate to ask their employees what they need because they are afraid of not being able to deliver the solution the employee desires, but it is always better to have an open, continuous dialogue about it. Perhaps a compromise can be found."

The report clearly shows that employees' demand for optional and flexible office presence remains high after the pandemic years. The percentage of decision-makers who experience challenges in getting employees back to the office to the desired extent has even increased by 18 percent between 2022 and 2023. In addition to the challenge of increasing the attractiveness of the office with limited resources, employers also need to take care of their employees' mental well-being during working hours, even when they work from home. Sofia Viotti's best advice is to let go of the idea that one solution fits all and not to get stuck at a superficial level.

"When having a dialogue about what would enhance well-being in the workplace, it rarely involves switching to nicer furniture or repainting the office. What attracts people is a sense of community and feeling that being present is meaningful. The most irritating thing in workplaces with mandatory presence is when, at the end of the workday, you feel like you could have stayed home."

During the pandemic years, many people testified how remote work facilitated the juggling act of life with children, exercise, and household chores. Many companies, supported by these arguments, have taken the opportunity to significantly reduce their office spaces. A few companies have even completely phased out their physical offices.

Sofia points out that the dream of permanent remote work is not representative of all people or all periods. "If you are new to a city or new to your workplace, it is not attractive at all to work from home all the time. It can be very lonely, and the onboarding process for new employees can be deficient. It is the freedom of choice that is important, that one should be able to choose to participate in a social context when needed," concludes Sofia.