Maximizing Efficiency: Is it worth it?

A successful business: this is the dream that so many eager entrepreneurs and business owners share. Although many consider a “successful business” to be one in which efficiency and productivity are maximized, it is imperative to consider another aspect when determining a business’ success rate: employee welfare. Without employees to carry out and support the goals of a business, a business would essentially be nothing. To create a flourishing business, employers must cater to the needs of the employees, fostering an open and inclusive work environment.

In many ways, the military is like a traditional business. Within the military, there are leaders (employers) who set goals for troops (employees) to accomplish in order to promote the success of the organization as a whole. Yet recently, it has become apparent that the military is too focused on promoting success; it has placed efficiency and productivity above the psychological welfare of troops. According to the army’s Health Promotion, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention 2010 report, suicide amongst troops who are completing active duty is startlingly significant. In 2009, 160 soldiers committed suicide while on duty. Even more astounding is that another 1,700 troops attempted suicide that year. Of those who actually committed suicide, 80% of troops had never been in combat or had been deployed to a combat zone only once. This means that other factors contributed to the deaths of the troops—psychological factors. The report actually states that psychological stressors such as “…the rigors of service…and separation from family result[ing] in a sense of isolation, hopelessness, and life fatigue” were responsible for a large majority of the suicides. To download the full report, click here.

It is clear that military leaders have become so focused on preparing troops for war that they have neglected to address the psychological needs of troops. Indeed, the report claims that the military has “unintentionally” limited the commanders’ “leadership and management requirements” by promoting such intense war-preparation objectives. Military leaders no longer take the time to properly evaluate the mental health of troops, and they no longer properly promote and advertise therapy and counseling services for emotional issues. Because seeking counseling is not something that is heavily promoted, many troops either do not know this is an option or are ashamed to seek help due to the fear of being labeled as “weak.”

Essentially, military leaders have created a terribly oppressive and stressful environment in which troops are expected to function on a daily basis. By not openly displaying affection and care toward soldiers, and by not allowing them to understand that seeking counseling is always an option for dealing with emotional issues, military leaders have essentially deprived troops of the one of the most basic methods for coping with stress: a strong social support network. It is important to have a solid social support network not only because it allows an individual to receive numerous perspectives on a stressful situation, but also because it provides individuals with the comforting knowledge that they are not alone. So many troops in the military feel both stressed and isolated, and because of this they view suicide as their only solution. Military leaders undeniably have a moral obligation to make troops more aware of both the problem-focused coping and emotional-focused coping strategies that are available to help troops deal with stress.

So is it worth it to place efficiency and productivity over the welfare of employees? As the situation currently transpiring within the military demonstrates, it is absolutely not worth it. The fact that the military is still functioning when so many of its most valuable members are emotionally tortured is a miracle. The cost of a human life is absolutely irreplaceable. Soldiers do not join the military to sacrifice their lives to emotional issues; they join the military to sacrifice their lives to protect the freedoms of the citizens. If proactive measures aren’t taken immediately to correct the flawed and unjust military leadership techniques, so many troops will continue to succumb to death unnecessarily.