Emotional Well-Being in Apple Company
Emotional well-being is an essential part of a person’s working life. Indeed, studies show that a high level of well-being allows employees to be more productive and loyal to the company (Meister). However, studies show that Apple company has an alarmingly low level of emotional well-being in its Chinese factories. Thus, over 66% of employees reported experiencing stress at work (Chan, Selden, & Pun, 2020).
Moreover, it has been found that the management practices hostility and violence toward employees, creating an atmosphere of intimidation and domination. Employees do not feel they have any chance for a promotion and are in constant fear of losing their jobs. Management takes advantage of the poor material circumstances of most of the workers, forcing them to work overtime. The studies show that employees are forced to work overtime for up to 200 hours per month, which results in a situation when they hardly see their families (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020). The situation is exacerbated by regular bullying practices adopted at the Apple factory.
Stress-Conducive Factors at Apple Company
Among the factors that the employees name as conducive to high levels of stress are arrogant attitudes from their superiors and their unwillingness to engage in discussing workers’ problems, bullying practices, the monotonous character of work, and its intermittent character (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020). Moreover, employees note a hostile atmosphere and threats of being fired if they do not work overtime to complete the amount of work set by the managers (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020).
Violence-Provoking Factors at Apple Factories
Among the factors that are instrumental in creating the atmosphere of hostility and violence, the employees name the crowdedness of factory offices and industrial set where there is no recreation space, the practices of bullying and intimidation and oppression used by the management (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020). Moreover, employees note that there are practically no chances for promotion, and dedication to work is taken for granted rather than really appreciated.
Impact on the Well-Being
Constant stress and a violent and hostile atmosphere at Apple factories negatively impact workers’ well-being. Thus, employees note the loss of sleep, and constant anxiety among the leading factors that have a negative effect on their well-being (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020). Moreover, stress often leads to carelessness that results in physical injuries of factory workers. Regular bullying sometimes results in the beatings of workers who refuse to work overtime.
Employees report that they experience mental-related issues connected to stress. Thus, about 40% of employees reported having depression and 2% said they have suicidal thoughts (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020). Many former employees said they developed stress-related illnesses while working at Apple factories, among which they name heart disease, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems (Chan, Selden & Pun, 2020)
Intervention Strategies
To reduce stress and enhance employees’ well-being, measures to alleviate stress-related factors should be taken. First of all, recreation space should be created where employees can relax during the working day. Secondly, educational seminars should be held to teach employees ways to alleviate stress and anxiety in the workplace. Thirdly, stress-provoking factors, such as working overtime, should be eliminated. Every employee should have his or her share of rest. Finally, the attitude of managers towards employees should be changed. The practices of bullying and intimidation should be eliminated. Instead, the emphasis should be placed on responsible leadership, where leaders are accountable to stakeholders for the working practices they follow. The accent in management should be placed on empathy, openness, and understanding so that employees are not afraid to voice their concerns and, moreover, feel their concerns would be duly considered.
Hostility Reduction Strategy
To reduce hostility at the workplace, relations between staff and managers should be strictly regulated, leaving no place for violent practices and bullying. Therefore, it is necessary not to describe the existing basic working processes between the management and the staff, to regularly check whether they correspond to reality and, if necessary, make adjustments. It is better to fix the description of the processes in the form of regulations. Managers should be educated how to build trusting relationships with the personnel to make teamwork more productive. In case the divisions between the managers and employees are too deeply entrenched to consider the possibility of a change, the option of replacing the managing staff should be duly considered.
In addition to the current work in the factory, there is also some project work. Sometimes, with such work, the management of each department demands of the employees the actions that it considers necessary, and, as a result, a lot of conflicts arise both between the heads of departments and between employees, which leads to stress. In this case, it is possible to propose the introduction of a project approach in the company, in particular, the development of a local act regulating project work, according to which a project manager should be appointed, a project calendar plan should be drawn up and agreed upon, requirements for project results should be strictly elaborated.
Moreover, employees must feel that their dedication to work is appreciated and understand the steps they must take to be promoted. Studies show that opportunities for promotion help to enhance well-being (Kun & Gadanec, 2022).
Enhancing Employee Emotional Well-Being
The overall strategy of enhancing employee wellbeing comprises building a trusting atmosphere within the company where all the concerns are heard and arguable issues are resolved through dialogue instead of bullying and intimidation. The culture of cooperation and delegation of powers should be encouraged. In addition, many companies offer employees to pay for the services of fitness centers (this is also a measure to reduce stress symptoms). The opportunity to go outside during lunch to leave work on time – is also a measure to enhance workers’ well-being. Lack of excessive control, tolerance, and accessibility of information – the introduction of these principles into the corporate culture will help in enhancing levels of well-being among employees so that they can bring more benefits to the company in which they work.
To build an atmosphere of trust, communication barriers should be reduced. Moreover, each employee must understand how his or her material benefit depends on the quality and volume of work they do. This measure is especially relevant for management staff who can be fined for inappropriate behavior or bullying practices towards employees at a workplace. Studies show that involvement in community programs and corporate events enhances the levels of well-being among employees, which is why the company should consider the organization of community and corporate events for factory workers.
References
Chan, J., Selden, M., & Pun, N. (2020). Dying for an iPhone: Apple, Foxconn, and the Lives of China’s Workers. Haymarket Books.
Kun, A., & Gadanecz, P. (2022). Workplace happiness, well-being and their relationship with psychological capital: A study of Hungarian Teachers. Current Psychology, 41(1), 185-199. Web.
Meister J. The Future Of Work Is Employee Well-Being. Forbes. Web.