What is and what does organizational or labor psychology study?

What is and what does organizational or labor psychology study?

Organizational psychology is responsible for studying human behavior in the labor field, ensuring the interests of institutions, organizations and collaborators.

Similarly, organizational psychology It seeks to increase everyone's productivity, through motivations, strategies and other incentives that promote professional development.

Every day it is more common to hear than many psychology professionals are dedicated to this area that is growing: Labor or organizational psychology. This is because many business leaders have noticed how important it is to have a harmonic work environment from which everyone's success is promoted.

However, for labor psychology, The interests of the group must prevail above the individuals, since the ideal is that there is a solid work team that allows the existence of a good work environment.

Organizational Psychology: Working field

Organizational psychology as we said is also called work psychology and organizations. In general terms, it can be affirmed that it is responsible for Study of the behavioral and psychological processes of the people who are on the stage of a company. Like the area of ​​human resources, labor psychology has gained land in recent years.

Among the work areas of organizational psychology, or tasks, is the recruitment and selection of personnel, analysis of jobs, how people develop socially and how they work in the work environment.

Labor psychology specialists have skills to improve the environment, resort to tools to plan and manage human capital, They use clear and effective communication, implement training models and programs and contribute to the resolution of business conflicts.

Previously, the work psychologist was in charge of selecting personnel and capturing talent. However, today he has more tasks, then, he carries out the analysis of work performance, manages and forms teams, advisor to the structure of the company, intervenes in marketing strategies, promotes health in organizations, among others.

In relation to health in companies, today it is known that stress does not contribute to performance, which is why many companies have begun tomplement work well -being plans or reduce the work day in order for productivity to improve.


Health in organizations is so important that The World Health Organization (WHO) has published action plans for labor well -being, which motivated many companies to begin to become aware of the positive work environment and the need to preserve mental and physical well -being in human talent.

Since then, companies that have a team of labor psychologists who evaluate and work in the prevention of these risks are innumerable. The Welfare programs They have no other purpose than to promote good habits to have good health. Therefore, employees are urged to have a balanced diet, maintain a good body posture, manage emotions properly, reduce stress, have rest areas, practice physical activities, among others. This is known as Corporate Wellness.

On the other hand, organizations' psychologists also fulfill an important role implemented programs against workplace harassment, a situation that affects a large number of workers, which affects their performance and lies their self -esteem, with other devastating psychological consequences.

It should be noted that There are many workers who have ill because of stress, some even arriving in the hospitalizations room. This accounts for how important mental health is and why companies must keep in mind.

Main functions of labor psychologists or organizations

Some suggestions provided by organizations psychologists are the following:

  • Promote mental health;
  • Promote improvements in emotional health, based on a good work environment;
  • discover what are the opportunities and needs that workers have to design good business policies;
  • know the sources of support available to the staff and inform them about it;
  • contribute to the personnel participating in decision making;
  • offer staff programs for professional development;
  • reward workers' contributions;
  • Apply health protection policies to identify stress and how to handle it.

These, in turn, are some recommendations that companies could consider when preparing their well -being plans for workers, because if an employee is and feels good, their contributions will be more significant within the organization.

Having good mental health can allow a work space or climate to be created in which harmony and organizational culture and identity predominate are strengthened.

With most motivated workers, companies will be much more productive, But if employees do not feel good, absenteeism and expenses will be higher, in addition to the casualties due to illness.

As people change, companies also do so. Organizational changes have an impact on workers' well -being. Therefore, the mental health of each collaborator must be a priority for any organization.

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Bibliography

  • Alonso, h. J. (2012). Occupational psychology.
  • Álvarez, r. (2013). Positive organizational psychology and organizational improvement. Business Success Magazine227(1), 1-3.
  • Peiró, j. M., & Rodríguez, I. (2008). Labor stress, leadership and organizational health. Psychologist's papers29(1), 68-82.
  • Rüssel, a. (1976). Work Psychology. Morata editions.