Workplace Depression: Blame It On Your Boss Not On Your Workload

Have you been constantly experiencing the Monday blues at work? Recent discovery reveals that depression in the workplace is not primarily caused by the heavy workload but by your boss.

NineMSN Health wrote that a team of Danish researchers interviewed about 4,500 random employees of different professions about their experiences in the workplace. The survey included measuring their stress levels at work and whether they ever felt that their bosses always spent time to listen to their needs.

The Results

At the end of the study, it was discovered that those who were treated fair and right by their bosses were the ones who were usually in good vibes while those who were unfairly treated were the ones depressed most often. According to one of the study's researchers, Dr Matias Brodsgaard Grynderup, the research and survey only suggest that depressed workers cannot be cured just by reducing their workload. Other factors like the boss' management are the ones that should be dealt with.

It is not also the high cortisol levels that can cause workplace depression, Real Clear Science stated. Besides, their past studies only showed that high levels of cortisol are more connected to a reduced risk of getting depressed.

How To Bid Goodbye To Workplace Depression

ScienceNordic discussed that the study also gave ideal suggestions on how to cure the workplace depression. One of these is for employers to take the time to listen to how the workers assess their experience within the company. Bosses can come up with more preventive ways to avoid workers' depression by also learning more about how their workers adapt to changes in the workplace.

Dr Grynderup recommended a particular style of management which is to treat employees fairly and even reward them if necessary. Above all, what's most important is for the company to establish an organizational structure that is transparent and which gives ear to the feelings of its employees.