Beyond the Desk: A Quest for Respect and Mental Well-Being in the Workplace
About Happiworkers, MA Consultancy’s Partner
Happiworkers is uniquely positioned to address the interlocking issues of staff performance, development, and employee well-being. Underpinned on anti-racist principles, Happiworkers’ tech platform is designed to democratise access to mental health for all employees, providing holistic, personalised, and culturally sensitive solutions for all employees. They provide preventative support through evidence-based micro-lessons to promote mental health awareness, foster resilience and build a mentally fit workforce.
For more information about how Happiworkers can support you, visit their website:
Spending the bulk of our waking hours at work, it’s not unreasonable to expect a smidgen of respect, is it? Yet, here we are in 2024, still flipping through reports brimming with workplace bullying, discrimination, and racial microaggressions – it’s like déjà vu from the worst parts of history (Majors, 2020).
Picture this: You roll out of bed, ready to dive into a job you’re paid to do that you either adore or just tolerate, only to be met with disrespect from another full-sized, supposedly mature adult. The notion of being belittled and diminished isn’t exactly what I envisioned when I signed up to be a teaching assistant. Being the target of gossip wasn’t part of my job description. Yet, there I was, the hot topic in the school hallways, whispered about by students and some staff members alike, all without a single clue as to why. When I finally mustered the courage to report my team leader to her boss, I felt like a rule-breaker who had stepped out of line. The issue was so poorly handled that I, the victim, felt in the wrong. My mental health declined, and just getting to work became a struggle. At the stroke of 3:20 PM, I was out the door faster than the kids at the final bell.
My team leader was Southeast Asian, and back then, we lacked the vocabulary we have now to discuss the nuances of anti-blackness within minoritised communities (O’Loughlin and Rastogi, 2022), let alone how it manifested in our largely global-majority staff. I felt isolated, like an outcast. Perhaps if we’d had access to racial equity training, like the kind offered by MA Consultancy, or had I been supported by a culturally attuned therapist or coach from Happiworkers, the right support and understanding might have helped me avoid the worst of my mental health challenges.
No one should ever have to stomach bullying, harassment, discrimination, or disrespect at work. We’re not asking for the moon here. Companies aren’t shelling out bucks for their staff to be mistreated. Managers need training and a solid support system. The collaboration between MA Consultancy and Happiworkers isn’t just a partnership; it’s a revolution in workplace culture. MA Consultancy is committed to fostering an environment where everyone flourishes, and Happiworkers share their zest for recognising and addressing the distinct needs of employees and organisations.
Our mission? To establish psychologically safe workplaces grounded in racial equity, designed to uplift a diverse and international workforce. Achieving this would transform the workplace into a much happier and healthier environment for all.
Majors, R. (2020) ‘Black Mental Health and the New Millennium: Historical and Current Perspective on Cultural Trauma and ‘Everyday’ Racism in White Mental Health Spaces — The Impact on the Psychological Well-being of Black Mental Health Professionals’, in Majors, R., Carberry, K. and Ransaw, T.S. (eds.) The International Handbook of Black Community Mental Health: Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 1-26.
O’Loughlin, L. and Rastogi, P. (2022) ‘Global South Asian and Black Relationships’, South Asian Review, 43(1-2), pp. 132-135.
by Ngozi Cadmus, TEDx Speaker, Psychotherapist, Social Worker and Co-Founder & CEO of Happiworkers
