April 24, 2009 – Having a promotion at work could have negative effects on mental health since the promoted employee would see his stress increase by 10%, say British researchers.
The study authors used data from a national survey of 1,000 workers promoted to managerial or supervisory positions.
According to Éric Gosselin, a specialist in occupational psychology at the University of Quebec in Outaouais, it is normal for a person’s stress level to be higher when they see their responsibilities increase. And on the contrary, most experts agree that having a promotion can be beneficial for health, he emphasizes. “With it, you gain more recognition and better control of your tasks. This allows you to better manage your stress and possibly improve your health, ”he explains.
However, according to the results of the study, the participants did not see their health improve after their promotion. Thus, it is questionable whether the promotions really improve health, or if the people promoted have better health than others before the promotion. “Could their better health make them more productive, and therefore more likely to be promoted?” It’s an interesting track, ”says Éric Gosselin.
Marie-Hélène Cruise – HealthPassport.net
1. Boyce CJ, Oswald AJ. Do People Become Healthier after Being Promoted? IZA Discussion Paper No. 3894. 2008 December. To consult the study: ftp.iza.org/dp3894.pdf [Consulté le 23 avril 2009]
