As World Mental Health Day takes centre stage, a new survey conducted exclusively for the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) brings to light a startling revelation: one in two Australian workers report being subjected to bullying, harassment, or other forms of inappropriate behaviour in their workplaces. The unsettling statistics don’t end there—a large proportion of respondents also say they face unrealistic workloads, inadequate training, and exposure to traumatic events at work.
The AWU survey polled over 1,200 workers across multiple industries, including Manufacturing, Mining, Construction, and Health and Community Services. What emerges is a troubling picture of workplaces fraught with psychosocial hazards, issues that can cause significant psychological harm.
The types of work-related stresses Australians face vary, but the survey lists them in no uncertain terms: work pressure and work overload, shift work and rostering issues, job insecurity, harassment and bullying, and exposure to workplace violence or traumatic events. These psychosocial hazards, poorly managed by employers, are leading to a surge in psychological injuries. Such injuries are currently the fastest-growing type of workers’ compensation claim, expected to make up one-third of all claims by the decade’s end.
The findings further build on earlier research indicating that 60% of surveyed workers were concerned about mental health and stress at work, with over 23% being extremely concerned. A concerning 30% revealed that they had sustained a mental health injury at work within the past year—a number that continues to grow.
The timing of this survey is particularly noteworthy, as Australian states are synchronising new laws to hold employers accountable for psychological and psychosocial hazards in the workplace. These legislative changes aim to increase employer obligations for preventative measures.
Paul Farrow, Australian Workers’ Union National Secretary, described the survey’s results as “disturbing.” “To see in black and white that one in two Australian workers have experienced being bullied, harassed or exposed to conflict or inappropriate behaviour in their workplace is shocking,” said Mr Farrow. “Australians spend on average 90,000 hours at work in their lifetime. We are seeing chronic levels of unrealistic workloads, poor training, and exposure to traumatic events. This survey is a wake-up call.”
The financial repercussions are just as eye-opening. According to The Productivity Commission, psychological and psychosocial injury cost the Australian economy between $12.2 billion and $39.9 billion per year due to losses in productivity and participation. Moreover, mental health claims alone cost $480 million per year in workers’ compensation, as reported by Safe Work Australia in 2015.
To put a human face on these statistics, various case studies were included in the survey. One member of the AWU, working in the construction industry, had his shifts changed without consultation, which significantly impacted his pay and ability to provide food for his family for over a week. Another worker in the funeral industry, caring for an extremely ill partner, had his request for flexible work arrangements outright denied by his manager. These are but a couple of examples among many that underline the pressing need for reforms.
While legislation may be adapting, the onus is also on employers to become proactive in managing these psychosocial hazards. As Paul Farrow cautions, the consequences are serious for companies that fail to act—both in human and financial terms.
World Mental Health Day offers an opportunity for introspection and action, and this survey serves as a clarion call. Ignoring it would not just be detrimental to the workers but to the very fabric of the Australian economy. As we all take a moment today to consider our mental well-being and that of those around us, it’s imperative that employers also pause to evaluate the mental health landscape within their organisations and take concrete steps to rectify these pervasive issues.
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One in two Australian workers faces workplace #bullying & other psychosocial hazards, leading to psychological injuries & significant economic costs, according to an AWU survey. New laws are addressing employer accountability. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/nnoLOHfZdX
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) October 10, 2023
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