Over the past decade, whether companies should use their assets for their employees’ health or for promotions, bonuses, and extra time off has been intensely debated. From my point of view, both sides have valid arguments and enough evidence to support them.
On the one hand, some people believe that, in order to increase productivity, companies should offer incentives such as higher wages or promotion opportunities because these measures can encourage employees to work harder. There is a positive correlation between motivation and efficiency: the more organizations reward their employees, the better they fulfill their tasks. Moreover, because of tight schedules, some individuals cannot find enough time to rest, which leads to burnout and mistakes. For example, in China, due to heavy workloads, some exported containers were misplaced and have never been found. A possible solution is for employers to reduce working hours so that workers can recover and maintain their performance.
On the other hand, those who oppose the previous view claim that companies should prioritize their employees’ health because it is the most important factor for long-term sustainability. If even one worker gets injured, it could disrupt production. Furthermore, if a serious issue occurs because of negligence regarding safety, the company’s reputation may be jeopardized. For instance, in Spain, more than twenty miners lost their lives due to insufficient safety measures, leading to severe sanctions that ultimately forced the company into bankruptcy.
All in all, companies should be responsible for both their employees’ health and their living conditions to ensure continued success.