設定健康的工作界限──SETTING HEALTHY WORK BOUNDARIES
工作環境可能充滿壓力 – 包括：達到截止的日期、必須完成的額度、要達成的目標、利潤的維持。因為這些要求，許多職場變成不健康的環境，可能對員工的身體、心理和情緒健康造成損害。
《哈佛商業評論》，是多年來著名的商業刊物，其中一期的管理祕訣中，談到了這個問題。這些建議聚焦在，為你的團隊訂定健康工作標準的重要性上。有趣的是，每一個建議都被聖經，這本非常古老的「商業書籍」，所教導的原則得到證實。
以下是《哈佛商業評論》，關於領導者如何幫助團隊，享有健康的界限，不只能提高生產力，還能實現高職場滿意度和滿足感，所提出的三個祕訣：
首先，作為一個領導者，應樹立良好的榜樣。當截止日期逼近，或者一個重要的客戶訂單似乎處在危急時，很容易忘記員工和同事在辦公室之外，也有自己的生活。我們應該認真看待，在深夜發送電子郵件給員工，或是他們無法在午餐時間好好放鬆，而帶來的負面影響。
我們應該誠實地考慮，如果有人對我們的個人時間，提出過多要求，我們將如何反應。領導者要為跟隨他們的人設定榜樣。有一天，耶穌基督在服事門徒後說：「我給你們作了榜樣，叫你們照著我向你們所做的去做。」(約翰福音13章15節) 祂並不要求他們去做祂自己不願意去做的事。
其次、每週計劃額外的時間。我們當中的許多人都過於樂觀，有時會承諾，在不合理的時間表內完成項目。作為領導者，我們應該鼓勵員工，每週預留時間，來處理無法完成的計畫。
在另一個場合，耶穌對圍繞祂的一群人發出警告，祂說：「你們那一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他…。」(路加福音14章28-29節)
最後、增加工作量的透明度。定期與員工交流，詢問他們對工作負荷的感受。傾聽他們的意見，並預備好用減少不必要壓力的方式回應。箴言27章23-26節建議：「你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群…乾草割去，嫩草發現，山上的菜蔬也被收斂。羊羔之毛是為你作衣服；山羊是為作田地的價值。」
與我們一同工作的人，顯然比農場動物更有價值，因此，我們應該更關注他們的福祉，因為他們每天都在職場與我們一起合作。你的團隊需要健康的工作界限，包括引導他們有休息的時間。正如希伯來書4章10節所述 :「因為那進入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工，正如神歇了他的工一樣。」如果連上帝都需要休息，那麼我們更需要這樣做。
註：本篇週一嗎哪與4/3的主題和內容類似。請各位會員仍然耐心研讀。
@2023版權所有，經許可改編自 “UBN誠信時刻”，關於職場工作中信仰議題的評論。UBN（非常規企業聯盟）是一個服務小型企業界的國際性職場信仰事工。UBN的官網: www.unconventionalbusiness.org
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文 :
箴言 24章27節
24:27 你要在外頭預備工料，在田間辦理整齊，然後建造房屋。
以西結書34章12節
34:12牧人在羊群四散的日子怎樣尋找他的羊，我必照樣尋找我的羊。這些羊在密雲黑暗的日子散到各處，我必從那裡救回他們來。
馬太福音7章12節、22章39節
7:12所以，無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人，因為這就是律法和先知的道理。」
22:39 其次也相仿，就是要愛人如己。
路加福音6章21節
6:21你們飢餓的人有福了！因為你們將要飽足。你們哀哭的人有福了！因為你們將要喜笑。
彼得前書2章21節
2:21你們蒙召原是為此；因基督也為你們受過苦，給你們留下榜樣，叫你們跟隨他的腳蹤行。
反省與問題討論
- 你如何描述你的工作環境？是健康的，還是因要完成計畫和實現目標的持續壓力，而變得不健康？請解釋你的答案。
- 你認為一個不健康的工作環境，會有哪些容易觀察到的現象？你會如何將這些問題讓當權者注意到呢？
- 有人建議領導者，應該在促進健康的工作習慣和理念方面擔任好的榜樣。你同意高層主管應該承擔這種責任嗎？如果是，你認為領導者履行的情況有多常見呢？
- 你認為大多數職場提倡「工作量的透明度」－是鼓勵員工坦誠地表達他們對工作負荷的擔憂嗎？請解釋你的答案。
挑 戰
無論我們是否擁有重要的決策職位，我們都可以努力在工作場所產生積極的影響。然而，獨自一人往往難以實現所需的改變。在努力改善工作環境的過程中，你有沒有得到支持的人（一個或多個）呢？就如傳道書4章9節寫的「兩個人總比一個人好，因為二人勞碌同得美好的果效。」
SETTING HEALTHY WORK BOUNDARIES
By Rick Boxx
The work world can be filled with stress – deadlines to be met, quotas to be filled, goals to be achieved, profit margins to be maintained. Because of these demands, many workplaces become unhealthy environments, potentially detrimental to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of staff members.
The Harvard Business Review, which has been a highly esteemed business publication for many years, addressed this problem in its management tips in one of its editions. These recommendations focused on the importance of setting healthy standards of work for your team. It is interesting to note that each of them is affirmed by principles taught in the very old “business book” called the Bible.
Here are the three tips the Harvard Business Review presented on how leaders can help their team enjoy healthy boundaries resulting not only in greater productivity but also high levels of workplace satisfaction and fulfillment:
First, as the leader, set a good example. When deadlines are looming or an important account seems at risk, it is easy to forget that employees and colleagues have lives outside of the office. We should take seriously the potentially negative impact that sending late-night emails to staff or their never being able to take a lunch break can have.
We should honestly consider how we would react if someone made excessive demands upon our own personal time. Leaders set the tone for those who follow them. One day, after performing an act of service for His disciples, Jesus Christ said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). He was not expecting them to do something He was not willing to do.
Second, plan extra time each week. Many of us are overly optimistic, sometimes making commitments to complete projects on time schedules that prove to be unreasonable. As leaders, we should encourage staff to block out time each week for working on unfinished projects.
On another occasion, Jesus cautioned a large crowd assembled around Him, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him…” (Luke 14:28-29).
Third, increase workload transparency. Check in with staff regularly and ask how they feel about their workloads. Listen to them and be ready to respond in ways that can help them and relieve unnecessary burdens. Proverbs 27:23-26 advises, “Be sure to know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds…. When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing and the goats with the price of a field.”
The people we work with obviously are far more valuable than farm animals, so we should have even greater concern for their well-being as they collaborate with us every day in the workplace. Your team needs healthy work boundaries, which includes leading them toward times of rest. As Hebrews 4:10 states, “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.” If even God needed to take a break from His labors, how much more do we need to do the same?
Copyright 2023, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How would you describe your working environment? Is it healthy, or is it unhealthy because of relentless pressures to complete projects and achieve goals and objectives? Explain your answer.
- What do you think would be readily observable symptoms of an unhealthy working environment? How would you go about bringing these concerns to the attention of people in authority?
- It is suggested that leaders serve as good examples in terms of promoting healthy work habits and philosophies. Do you agree that top-level executives should bear this responsibility? If so, how common do you think it is for leaders to do so?
- Do you think “workload transparency” – encouraging staff to communicate concerns about their workloads openly and honestly – is promoted in most workplaces? Why or why not?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 24:27; Ezekiel 34:12; Matthew 7:12, 22:39; Luke 6:21; 1 Peter 2:21
Challenge
Whether we hold important decision-making positions or not, we all can strive to make a positive influence in our workplaces. However, it is often difficult to effect needed change alone. Do you have someone (or more than one person) who can support you in efforts to improve your working environment? As Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.”
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