What are the effects of not being able to do your job properly?

Marie Pezé

Doctor of Psychology, psychoanalyst, former legal expert,Head of the “Suffering and Work” consultation network

Présentation FR

“Work is an encounter between who we are and what we are assigned to do. While work can be a powerful health-building tool, it also has a suffering dimension and can be harmful to our health.”

In return for their efforts, for the risks they take, for the intelligence they bring to bear, for the suffering involved in confronting the organisation of work and social relations at work, employees essentially expect recognition, a moral reward, a moral and symbolic dimension, that the quality of their work, the quality of their contribution, be acknowledged. This recognition may take the form of bonuses, promotions or salaries, but the psychological impact is basically linked to the symbolic dimension.

Work recognition implies a number of conditions:

  • That the actual work is perceived by the hierarchy, the management, the user and the colleagues. It is never the case, as you have understood, since work organisation takes no notice of what we add to the prescription and that we work according to our bodies.
  • Let this work be evaluated, judged not on financial criteria or profitability objectives to be achieved, not on individual features, ‘soft skills’, an ability to submit, qualifications or academic knowledge, formal compliance with procedures and standards, but on its usefulness with regard to the purpose of the job.
  • Let this work be judged, peer-reviewed, assessed by colleagues with regard to the values of a profession.