Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects millions of people daily in their personal and professional lives. It is challenging for those who have this illness to work effectively. The symptoms can make it challenging to advance professionally and perform well at work.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often associated with behavioral issues. However, people with OCD don’t engage in these behaviors out of happiness. Instead, they do so out of a sense of helplessness.
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What Is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that results in recurrent, unwanted thoughts or sensations (obsessions) or the urge to act repeatedly (compulsions). Obsessions and compulsions can coexist in some individuals. OCD symptoms include:
- counting or numbering the items,
- examining objects,
- constantly cleaning the desk or doing the dishes etc.
People with OCD may struggle to manage their day-day tasks. When they get to work, they find it difficult to turn off their OCD, which results in stress, anxiety, and other pressures throughout the workweek.
How could OCD at work impact the business?
OCD can impact businesses, depending on the sector, size, and number of affected employees. A study by NCBI found that OCD patients miss an average of 46 days of work each year. There are some reasons why people with OCD in workplace can have a significant impact on their business. The reasons are listed below:
1. Production of the Work
Efficiency at work is the primary goal. Although spending more time on a task can increase productivity, people with OCD find it challenging to do so.
If they are diverted for one hour each workday during the week, employees will lose 5 hours per week or 261 hours. The company will lose more than $5,200 in paid time if this person makes $20 an hour.
2. Inconsistency Among the Team
Establishing team standards and performance can be complex when a team consists of one or more people with OCD. Due to their obsessive and repetitive behaviors, OCD individuals may require meetings to be run in a specific way and tasks to be completed in a particular order before moving on to the next item of business. These extra precautions may frustrate or upset employees who don’t have OCD at work. Teams should take extra care and plan if they want to work with OCD personnel.
3. Customer Sense of satisfaction
It may be difficult for employees having OCD to cater their assistance to a customer’s needs, to be more accommodating, and communicate with them carefully. If a worker feels pressured to complete a task in a way that deviates from what the client desires, customer satisfaction suffers. Examples of this behavior include repeating procedures or getting the client to provide information in a specific order.
4. Issues Facing Both Employers and Employees
Treating someone differently due to a medical condition like OCD is unfair. For example, someone cannot refuse employment if they are otherwise qualified. Even though the law is clear, people with OCD who are currently employed may, sadly, have a variety of experiences.
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Takeaway
According to a study by NIHM, OCD affects 2.3% of the general population. Still, people can recover and live happy, fulfilling lives with the proper support and care. Employers must work to have an inclusive workplace policy that takes people with OCD into account.
Employers can significantly improve many people’s lives by creating efficient support systems and paying attention to their staff. This rehabilitation can be helped by working in a welcoming and supportive environment. If one can learn to manage their OCD symptoms, they can return to living a fulfilling life and working productively.
OCD is a mental illness, and many people at your workplace are unaware of it, so make them aware of 9 Ways To Raise Mental Health Awareness At The Workplace. To learn more about it, click here.
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