Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 43
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.
They can arise from a number of
significant risks, including, but not
limited to:
Excessive workloads
Conflicting demands and poor
context of work
Lack of influence over the way
the job is done
Poorly managed organisational
change or job insecurity
Ineffective communication or
lack of support from
management and colleagues
Psychological and/or sexual
harassment
Third-party violence
Over time, employees who are in an
environment where these factors
play a major role in their everyday
working lives can begin to
experience adverse mental health
outcomes such as work-related
stress, burnout or depression.
