How to say “thats not cool” to your boss
The Respect@Work Amendment Act is making sure workers are protected and empowered to address unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace. Here's what you need to do make sure you're compliant.
Anxiety is the most common health condition in Australia. According to Beyond Blue everyone feels anxious from time to time with 1 in 4 people (1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men) experiencing anxiety at some point in their life.
The Australian Psychological Society states that anxiety is a relatively common and natural feeling that is generally a short-lived response to a stressful situation. It usually presents itself in times that feel unfamiliar, or challenging, or when an individual is feeling uncertain, such as a job interview, public speaking or sitting for an exam. When those anxious feelings become all-consuming, they refuse to go away or they make it difficult to continue on with everyday life and tasks, that may be a sign of more than just situational anxiety, and rather, an anxiety disorder. It may be characterised as the silent killer taking over our workplaces.
According to Sane.org, an Australian national Mental Health charity, anxiety disorder is a medical condition characterised by persistent, extreme worry, often presenting with the following symptoms:
Anxiety disorders are believed to be caused my numerous factors, with many individuals more than likely born with a genetic vulnerability to develop anxiety. Personality traits or stressful life events and uncertainty may exacerbate a pre-existing condition or trigger the development of an anxiety disorder.
2020 has certainly seen more than its fair share of uncertainty. With Black Summer and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians have been faced with some harrowing times, and all within a short period of six months.
Whilst managing uncertainty is considered a normal part of everyday life, an individual’s ability to manage uncertainty varies. Whilst some may be fine with a lot of uncertainty in their life, others find it difficult to manage with even the smallest amount. Anxious people are most likely to sit on the latter end of this scale, being very intolerant to high levels of uncertainty. When someone who is intolerant to uncertainty is exposed to increased levels, their reaction typically includes increased levels of worry, as well as avoidance or attempts to eliminate that uncertainty.
During this year’s Black Summer and COVID-19 pandemic, HR teams may have seen some of your employees demonstrate a more adverse reaction to these times of uncertainty when they presented at work. Some of the stress that stems from times of uncertainty include, but are not limited to:
All organisations and HR service providers should strive for what is considered a ‘mentally healthy’ workplace. Having a workplace that is deemed mentally healthy is one that promotes and protects mental health whilst encouraging and empowering individuals affected to seek help for anxiety or depression. The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Safe Work Australia cover risks to mental health in the workplace.
Whilst this covers work-related mental health conditions that stem from hazards in the workplace such as job demand, HR support and organisational changes, it is still a reasonable expectation that an employer keeps an eye out for any changes in employee behaviour that may stem from mental health conditions arising from outside of the organisation.
This is a particularly important responsibility for Leaders in an organisation as they play a critical role in driving the workplace policies and procedures that are in place to promote a mentally healthy workplace. Your HR team or outsourced HR support should be your starting point in making sure that you have the right infrastructure in place while meeting your regulatory requirements.
A study commissioned by TNS and Beyond Blue titled State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia, found that employees viewed mentally healthy workplaces as being just as important as physically safe ones. Further, the survey found that organisations which valued mental health were more likely to be productive, with 72% of employees surveyed in agreement and 71% agreement among leaders, and, Leaders who focus on mental health in the workplace inspired respect amongst employees, with 65% in agreement.
There are many benefits to providing support for employees with a mental health condition, including:
In addition to this, work can play an important role in the recovery of an individual with a mental health disorder; providing structure, purpose and social interaction. Fostering positive interactions in the workplace can play an instrumental role in the recovery.
To assist in managing anxiety during times of uncertainty there are a few simple steps an organisation can follow as a part of their human resource strategy to deal with anxiety:
If a leader identifies that an individual, or group of individuals are having a particularly hard time during a time of uncertainty, they may consider making reasonable adjustments, including:
When an organisation demonstrates their commitment to good mental health in the workplace, the organisation effectively contributes to the reduction of the stigma around mental health, resulting in a mentally healthier workplace. It is no surprise then that productivity will follow suit.
Should you need HR support or assistance in creating and maintaining a mentally healthy workplace, check out PerformHR’s Project Support, or to simply get in touch with our HR outsourcing team to discuss managed HR services that suit your needs.
“It may be characterised as the silent killer taking over our workplaces.”
Everything you need to know.
The Respect@Work Amendment Act is making sure workers are protected and empowered to address unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace. Here's what you need to do make sure you're compliant.
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