Building SAFER BUSINESS together

BY AMY LIVINGSTONE, Founding Director, Resilient One

SafeWork Australia’s 2022 report revealed that mental health accounts for nine per cent of worker’s compensation claims, a 37 per cent increase since 2018. In addition, the report found that mental health impacts business three-to-four times greater than all physical injuries and illnesses. This data provides a lens on the recent federal and local changes to WorkSafe guidelines, changing mindsets on what safety at work means for all.

Early in my career, my first days at a top four Australian bank were full of sadness hearing that an employee had hung himself in his office on the same floor a week prior. In the two decades that followed, I witnessed the impact of psychosocial hazards, some of which resulted in suicide, mental health and significant court action. These experiences imprinted upon me deeply that we can better care for each other - at work and at home.

The introduction of psychosocial hazards and risks within the new WorkSafe guidelines is for businesses of all sizes. Whilst the application for small business is untested, it is apparent that the responsibility of being safer together at work rests with the employer. People leaders and managers are highlighted as responsible, particularly with the increased duty of care and the right to disconnect. Certain sectors, such as aged and disability care, currently view psychosocial safety at work as the responsibility of the paying client (participant) receiving services from the employee. However, this view could now be interpreted as the business failing to appropriately manage psychosocial risks naturally inherent in care support roles. The question could be raised about whether the existing work design within the role supports psychosocial wellbeing. And, if the existing work design is deemed unsupportive of employee psychosocial wellbeing, the business may be asked to demonstrate the process being undertaken to satisfactorily improve work design.

Speaking with small businesses on the Sunshine Coast, we’ve heard uncertainty expressed in applying the new guidelines to the workplace. Upgrading workplace policy frameworks requires committed effort and expense, sometimes a complete rewrite to sufficiently comply. We’ve observed businesses that have yet to define what psychosocial risks pertain to their employee workforce and where role work design can be enhanced to support employee wellbeing and reduce psychosocial risk, including how to intervene and remediate a psychosocial incident. There can often be a lack of governance in place for regular audit and compliance reporting, including measuring change effectiveness across the business.

At ResilientOne, we are passionate about evolving workplace wellbeing and improving business team culture through leading technology, data insights and tailored programs. With our strategic partners, we evaluate, design and implement psychosocial risk management as the business ‘new normal’ so you can confidently operate future-ready now. Safer work environments create safer spaces for all of us to contribute at our best. When we are safe, we thrive, and the downstream effect on our families and our communities is positive and regenerative. So, why not get ahead of the curve with psychosocial safety in your workplace? To get a free readiness report for your business, scan the QR code and take our Workplace Psychosocial Risk Survey today.

https://www.resilientoneglobal.com/