Professional Jealousy.
In the intricate fabric of labor relations, a terrible and little-explored, but tremendously damaging, phenomenon emerges: professional jealousy.
Professional jealousy emerges as an insidious phenomenon that can go unnoticed, but leaves deep psychological scars on employees.
Although we commonly associate jealousy with the personal sphere, its shadow also looms over the work environment, affecting the mental health and performance of employees.
This phenomenon, not yet sufficiently supported, It creates a toxic atmosphere that undermines collaboration and well-being within an organization.
Perhaps at this point there are some doubts regarding the definition of some concepts with similar effects, so it is convenient to know the definition of the following concepts and have the appropriate perspective:
What is jealousy?
“"The psychology The current explanation is that jealousy is the natural response to the threat of losing a interpersonal relationship important to the jealous person. Jealousy seems to be present in everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status or upbringing, and can manifest in personalities that seemingly appeared safe of themselves. A common characteristic, frequent in jealous people, is that they often have traits of selfishness. Jealousy is also related to shame which is a natural response of the body.”.
What is competition?
“Competition can be defined as the fitness that has a person, made up of capabilities, skills y skills which it has to carry out an activity or achieve a goal within the work, academic or interpersonal sphere.”.
What is envy?
“Envy is the discomfort or pain at the joy of another, that is, the feeling of regret for not being the one who has or receives something that belongs to another, and for which one feels a resentful desire. It is a feeling similar to jealousy.”.
Psychosocial Risk Factors.
“"Those that can cause anxiety disorders, non-organic sleep-wake cycle disorders and severe stress and adjustment disorders, derived from the nature of the job functions, the type of work schedule and exposure to severe traumatic events or acts of workplace violence against the worker, due to the work performed.".
Professional jealousy, often disguised as healthy competition, can become a poison that damages people's morale and psychology.
In a workplace where collaboration should be the cornerstone, professional jealousy casts a shadow that obscures the work dynamic. Beyond simply healthy competition, this jealousy can trigger significant psychological damage in employees. Envy, low self-esteem, and job anxiety are just some of the consequences that can arise when jealousy is allowed to flourish within an organization.
To raise employee awareness about professional jealousy, it's essential to implement training programs that address this issue head-on. Fostering a culture of mutual support and recognition of collective achievements can counteract the seeds of envy. Furthermore, establishing open communication channels allows employees to express their concerns and resolve conflicts before they escalate into larger problems.
The Official Mexican Standard NOM-035-STPS-2018, Psychosocial risk factors at work - Identification, analysis and prevention, This standard, which addresses psychosocial risk factors in the workplace, provides valuable guidance for understanding and preventing workplace jealousy. It recognizes the importance of a safe and healthy work environment that promotes respect and minimizes psychosocial risks.
Detecting workplace jealousy early is key. NOM-035-STPS-2018 suggests conducting periodic assessments to identify potential psychosocial risk factors. These assessments may include workplace climate surveys, individual interviews, and observation of workplace behavior.
Early detection facilitates the implementation of preventive and corrective strategies.
Setting clear boundaries regarding each employee's responsibilities and expectations also helps minimize conflict. Furthermore, promoting empathy and collaboration as core values can shift a competitive mindset toward one more focused on teamwork.
It is important to know that according to the NOM-035-STPS-2018, The employer and the employee have obligations within their work environment and can be consulted directly in the standard, from which the following are derived:
5. Employer Obligations
5.1 Establish in writing, implement, maintain and disseminate in the workplace a policy for the prevention of psychosocial risks that includes:
a) The prevention of psychosocial risk factors;
b) The prevention of workplace violence, and
c) Promoting a favorable organizational environment.
6. Obligations of the workers
6.1 Observe the prevention and, where applicable, control measures provided for in this Standard, as well as those established by the employer to: control psychosocial risk factors, collaborate to have a favorable organizational environment and prevent acts of workplace violence.
6.2 Refrain from engaging in practices contrary to a favorable organizational environment and acts of workplace violence.
6.3 Participate in the identification of psychosocial risk factors and, where appropriate, in the assessment of the organizational environment.
6.4 Report practices contrary to a favorable organizational environment and report acts of workplace violence, using the mechanisms established by the employer for this purpose and/or through the safety and hygiene commission, referred to in NOM-019-STPS-2011, or those that replace it.
Therefore, the following recommendations can be taken into account to combat professional jealousy within an organization.
Education and Awareness: Initiate training programs that emphasize the importance of collaboration over competition. Fostering empathy and recognizing collective achievements can counteract the seeds of jealousy.
Open Communication: Establish transparent communication channels so employees feel safe expressing their concerns. Open communication facilitates early conflict resolution before it escalates.
Periodic Assessments: Following the guidelines of NOM-035-STPS-2018, conduct periodic workplace climate assessments to identify potential psychosocial risk factors, including professional jealousy. Early detection is essential.
Merit-Based Recognition Culture: Promote a culture where recognition and rewards are linked to merit and collective effort, thereby reducing unfair competition.
Establishing Clear Boundaries: Clearly define the responsibilities and expectations of each employee to reduce uncertainty and prevent conflicts arising from the perception of favoritism.
Conclusions: Building a Healthy Work Environment.
It is such a recurring issue that in some companies that suffer from it, they end up confusing it with competition or with the merits that an employee makes to stand out or to show their qualities, or if the person who has been victimized reports it, they even mistake it for envy.
If there are people who wake up during a work week, they think and plan how to affect a colleague: Because they want to and because they can.
In some cases, these actions are frequently disguised as an activity that involves "cost reduction," so unconsciously, he will be supported by an immediate supervisor.; On one hand, the simulation of savings, and on the other hand, the impact on another person at every opportunity.
Anyone with authority within an organization should have the power to identify and eradicate this; however, it is common for this to originate and be promoted more frequently within family organizations and that they have collaborators with more than 10 years of seniority.
Professional jealousy presents a real challenge in the modern workplace. By following the recommendations based on NOM-035-STPS-2018, organizations can unravel this enigma, building a work environment where collaboration and mutual respect flourish, thus protecting the mental health and performance of their employees.
Bibliographic reference.
Wikipedia contributors. (2023b, October 25). Jealousy. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celos
Editorial team, Etecé. (2022, September 26). Competition – what it is, concept, types and examples. Concept. https://concepto.de/competencia/#ixzz8J40pJzgw
Editorial team, Etecé. (2022a, June 13). Envy – what it is, concept, deadly sins. Concept. https://concepto.de/envidia/#ixzz8J4P1N5uE
Official Gazette of the Federation || Welcome to the Information System of the Official Gazette of the Federation. (s.f.). https://sidof.segob.gob.mx/notas/5541828
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