In the modern workplace, the line between diligent supervision and micromanagement is often blurred, leading to significant impacts on employee mental health. Even more concerning is the emerging discussion on whether these practices might constitute a breach of human rights within the work environment.

The excessive control over the employees’ duties can have profound psychological effects. Employees under constant surveillance and criticism may experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety, feeling as though they are perpetually walking on eggshells. This relentless pressure not only dampens morale but can also lead to more serious mental health issues such as depression, burnout, and decreased self-esteem. The psychological safety of the workplace is compromised when employees no longer feel they are trusted to perform tasks without overbearing management oversight.

Research highlights the importance of autonomy in the workplace for employee mental well-being. Autonomy is linked to higher job satisfaction, increased motivation, and better overall mental health. On the other hand, the lack of autonomy, a characteristic of micromanaged work environments, strips employees of the opportunity to engage meaningfully with their work, potentially leading to hostility and a sense of irrelevance.

The discussion of micromanagement as a human rights issue revolves around the principle of dignity in the workplace. Human rights principles, while broad, enshrine the right to fair and respectful treatment within all aspects of life, including employment. Persistent micromanagement violates this principle by undermining an individual’s dignity, suggesting that they are not competent to manage their responsibilities. This may be seen as a form of psychological harassment or bullying.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. They have set forth guidelines suggesting that a work environment should not only be free from physical hazards but also psychological ones. Therefore, practices that harm an employee’s mental well-being could be in violation of broader human rights norms.

Recognizing the negative impacts of micromanagement and its potential human rights implications calls for a significant shift in management practices. Employers must foster environments where autonomy is encouraged, and employees feel valued and trusted. Training for managers should emphasize the importance of leadership styles that support autonomy and recognize the detrimental effects of micromanagement.

Moreover, discussion around workplace practices and mental health must include considerations of dignity and human rights, ensuring that employment laws evolve to protect these aspects rigorously.

The conversation about micromanagement, its effects on mental health, and the potential for it to be recognized as a human rights issue is evolving. As awareness grows, it is imperative for employers to re-evaluate workplace practices, ensuring they uphold the principles of dignity, respect, and autonomy in the workplace. Only through bold action can we hope to create workplace environments that not only mitigate the risks associated with micromanagement but also promote a culture of health, well-being, and human dignity.

If you believe that you are a victim of Micromanagement, speak to your Union Representative.

Sam Padayachee

Human Rights Advocate

You are invited to participate in an online survey lasting 15-20 minutes, which focuses on workplace racial discrimination and health. If you meet the following criteria, this survey is for you:

To participate, you must be :

• Aged between 25 and 65 years

• Speak French or English

• Currently employed or unemployed for one year or less

• Canadian or living in Canada.

Please note that self-employed are not eligible.

This study has received approval from the University of Ottawa Research Ethics Board.

Click here to access the survey:

https://uottawapsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9EvbribSMbLG0tw

If you have any questions or if you have difficulty completing the questionnaire, please contact Rose D. Dalexis at rdale075@uottawa.ca

By Alisha Kang

Before I speak or write, you may see me hold the tobacco pouches gifted to me by elders I wear around my neck. I pray, “Great Spirit and Ancestors, help me always seek and speak or write the truth, or may another truth bringer correct my ignorance so we may all live in an honest community.”

As a Black Indigenous woman, whose Ancestors were enslaved by Europeans’ Royal Assent, this means…

That the monarchy’s hands are drenched in the blood of my Ancestors. It means that the Royal Family had to approve of my Ancestors’ freedom. It means that the French and British benefitted from our subjugation.

The centuries of slavery are the reason my African Ancestors are made up of people from Nigerian, Ghanaian, Liberian, Siera Leonean, Senegambian, Guinean, Congolese, and Angolan descent — stolen people taken to stolen lands. As breeding stock, they forced the strongest to make more.

Then Royal Assent went somewhat as follows; all children under six were freed in 1834 but others were retained for four to six years as apprentices. People in the British Caribbean finally gained their freedom at midnight on July 31, 1838 – a full two years before some in Canada. Canada loves to downplay its hand in slavery.

This means that in Canada those enslaved could have remained so as late as 1840. The spin of history paints those in lights that harm as the heroes even when not exactly factual. I will not uphold their fantastical stories. We cannot deal in truth if we continue to repeat lies.

Twenty million English pounds (£20,000,000) were made available by the British government to pay for damages suffered by owners of registered slaves, but none was sent to slaveholders in British North America.

Not a single cent was ever paid to any generation of the Ancestors for damages or payment for their labour (work) of those enslaved.

So, though I observe Emancipation Day, it is with an understanding that it is a day to mark when European Canadians decided they should no longer own people of Indigenous and African origin.

A day to remind me never to exploit others.

Never convince myself that the ends justify the means.

I will absolutely never use the very ideals that oppressed my Ancestors.

I reaffirm my dedication to dismantle the system of oppressors and their lies.