Can an ethics hotline help prevent work stress? The article discusses this question in light of Mexico's NOM-035, whose requirements came into effect in October 2020.
According to the article, employers—including small and medium-sized businesses—must address anxiety and stress at work and consider psychosocial risks. The aim is to protect employees' mental health.
The article links this standard to the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and its goal of improving working conditions and promoting fairer competition among organizations.
The ethics hotline as a preventive mechanism
Section eight of the standard focuses on psychosocial risks. To prevent risk factors and workplace violence and promote a favorable organizational environment, workplaces need to:
Provide safe, confidential channels for receiving complaints about practices that undermine a favorable organizational environment and reports of workplace violence, according to the guidelines discussed in the original article.
This section points to a reporting channel, such as an ethics hotline, that protects the reporter's information. The article also advocates independent operation by a third party as a corporate best practice.
Outsourcing the service can help reduce the risk of retaliation, protect the reporter's information, and avoid conflicts of interest. A channel operated by an independent provider can offer several advantages.
The standard's requirements
NOM-035 aims to identify, analyze, and prevent psychosocial risk factors while promoting a favorable workplace environment. Encouraging an ethical culture can help employees feel confident reporting harmful conduct promptly, which may also help address work-related stress.
Small and medium-sized companies should consider their responsibilities toward their teams. Implementing a reporting channel can be one step in preventing psychosocial risks.
At EthicsGlobal, we promote ethics hotline tools that can help organizations manage risks, strengthen their corporate image, and foster a healthy work environment.
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