Flourish eMAG Apr 25 - Flipbook - Page 7
Looking after your workers and your
own mental wellbeing is more
important than ever. So, for this
Corporate Health Day and World Day
of Safety and Health at Work, let9s
explore why a healthy workforce is
good for the bottom line!
Understanding the Psychological
Impact on Aussie Workers
Workers are inundated more than ever
with negative messaging, outside
influences, and stress. The cost-ofliving crisis, ongoing global political
tensions, and domestic uncertainty can
create a cauldron of mixed emotions.
Research has suggested that workers
find their mental wellbeing, job
security, AI, work-life balance, and
workplace safety to be some of the
highest areas of concern.
Times of uncertainty can strain our
mental wellbeing, affecting our sleep,
motivation, and overall productivity. A
recent Converge Poll identified that
33% of respondents expressed that
their productivity was at an all-time
low. Meanwhile, 17% said they felt
only 8slightly9 productive at work.
Addressing productivity and
understanding why workers feel less
motivated is key. Is it due to work
demands? Is it due to job
dissatisfaction? Is it due to mental
illness, or is it due to personal issues
outside of work?
The Reluctance to Disclose Mental
Health Barriers
It9s no secret that workers may feel
reluctant to disclose a condition based
on stigmatisation, and this can
contribute to increased absenteeism
due to mental health conditions.
Statistically, the time lost due to mental
health conditions between 2020/21
was four times greater than physical
injuries. While there are more
workplace initiatives in place in
contemporary work environments, we
are not out of the woods.
According to Diversity Council
Australia, more than 50% of Aussie
workers conceal or hide their condition
due to fears of facing discrimination or
stigmatisation. Coupled with workplace
psychosocial risks, this can present a
realm of issues that can impact the
wellbeing of your employees. But
never fear—there are steps you can
take to minimise and manage
psychosocial hazards…
What are Psychosocial Risks?
Before we get into how we can reduce
psychosocial risks in the workplace,
let9s first identify what a psychosocial
hazard is. Psychosocial risks are
factors, conditions and experiences at
work that may contribute to an
employee's poor physical and mental
health outcomes.
