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"To adopt the Standard successfully requires a commitment by senior management and participation by everyone; it is a shared responsibility.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Halifax (25 April 2014) — The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is the first union in Canada to be selected to be part of a three-year research project promoting the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace.
NSGEU/NUPGE's experience developing programs for bully-free workplaces gives them a spot on the National Standard on Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
According to President Joan Jessome, “As a labour organization, the NSGEU/NUPGE has long had a keen interest in promoting psychological health in the workplace. We have demonstrated this commitment in various ways, such as in helping to establish the Mental Health Coalition of Nova Scotia and in setting up a very successful Bully-Free Workplace program.”
This National Standard was first released in January 2013 by the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Standards Council of Canada. The purpose of the three-year research project officially launched in January 2014 is to identify best practices in the implementation of the National Standard in order to place psychological well-being at work on the same footing as physical health and safety in the workplace. The overall goals are to reduce stigma, to strengthen knowledge exchange between organizations and within organizations, to promote psychological safety, and to protect the mental health of workers.
Positive mental and psychological health important to every workplace
The World Health Organization defines psychological and mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
Jessome says, “NSGEU/NUPGE is committed to practice what we preach with our own employees and help lead the way to create a sustainable culture shift with the employers of our members. To adopt the Standard successfully requires a commitment by senior management and participation by everyone; it is a shared responsibility.”
Nova Scotia seen as a leader in creating bully-free workplace programming: International Conference to be held from Jun 11-13
The NSGEU/NUPGE will be participating in the Working Toward Bully-Free Workplaces 2014 International Conference being held in Darmouth, Nova Scotia from June 11-13. This world class event is being held in Nova Scotia becaues it is seen on the international stage as the province leading Canada toward a nation of bully-free workplaces.
The conference is taking its place on the international stage to address the cultural issue of bullying in the workplace and what we have to do to successfully graduate the next generation of Canada’s workforce. Keynote speakers are all internationally recognized for their contribution to bully-free workplaces and will be addressing the national standards for Canada on psychological workplace health and safety. Participants will have the opportunity to be informed about existing workplace anti-bullying programs as well as access tools and resources that will help them improve the psychological health of their workplace and integrate the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The Standard is voluntary now, but will be mandatory in the future.
Early bird registration is open until April 30. Registrations can be made online at www.bullyfreeworkplaces.ca or by calling 902-478-7797.
More information:
Working Toward Bully-Free Workplaces 2014 International Conference
NSGEU Bully-Free Workplaces Program
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE