Building Block 3: Planning

Tips from WSPS Consultants

• Planning should be viewed as an opportunity to think through issues strategically. Consider what issues you want to address, how those issues can be supported by programs and how those programs can be organized within a strategy.
• Before you get too far into the planning stage, consider what resources and supports you already have in place. These may include a change management process, communication strategies, project management processes or formal psychological supports for employees.
• When assigning tasks, identify who is responsible for the action, who is accountable for its completion, who should be consulted during the process and who should be informed on its progress. These four components form what’s known as the RACI matrix.
• When building a data map, some data points to consider including are: stress-related illnesses, absenteeism, turnover, short and long-term disability, benefit utilization rates, workers' compensation claims, return-to-work and accommodation, employee and family assistance plan (EFAP) use, workplace grievances and health and safety infractions.
• Understanding your employees’ feedback is critical. Decide how and when you’ll engage them.
  • Some organizations provide surveys or assessment tools upfront and then use data from the results to inform their “Getting Started” Building Blocks (Foundation, Support and Planning). There are many ways to gather employee input, including surveys such as: Guarding Minds@Work, Stress Assess, Stress Satisfaction Scan, Mental Fitness Index (fee) to capture aggregate organizational data, or conduct interviews and focus groups.
  • Other organizations use existing data gathered from EFAP utilization reports, town halls or other sources, and then formally assess for psychological hazards.
  • Choose the option(s) that best suit your organizational needs.
• The common components of a strong psychological health and safety strategy include governance, training, communications, resources and evaluation. Consider each of these as you plan a strategy.
• Ask yourself if new activities are introducing risks to the organization. If they are, create a plan to mitigate and manage these risks. Think about evaluation protocols from the onset.