Are you OK in the Workplace?
R U OK? Day was celebrated on 11th September, but you can ask the question any day. We know that personal lives can impact work so important to ask the question even if it may be related to personal issues but are you ok in the workplace?
There are workplace laws that protect employees in the workplace against workplace bullying, discrimination and now even their mental (and physical) wellbeing to ensure a psychosocial safe workplace under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011. There is also now the Right to Disconnect legislation in the Fair Work Act.
Psychosocial hazards are activities, interactions or practices in the workplace that can create mental stress to an employee which could lead to psychological or physical harm. Some examples are job demand, workplace conflict, poor support, poor organisational change management, low job control or clarity, remote or isolated work, workloads, clarity and the list goes on.
Benefits of identifying and managing these hazards are for example, improved job satisfaction, loyalty, productivity, engagement and reduced absenteeism, incidents, turnover and workers compensation claims. However, I do believe they should be prevented in the first place, which really is good HR.
It is also important to ensure staff are taking annual leave, taking regular breaks, encouraging stretching, meditation and health eating, teamwork, having conversations with colleagues, good leader relationships with team members and annual education of such issues. The recent legislation helps by requiring identifying, assess control and review so it’s a requirement to be proactive to determine any issues that could lead to harm and so does the question RUOK? Which everyone should be encouraged to any day.
At HR Business Direction we are passionate about helping our clients get a ROI from their people and creating working environments that support and prevent mental health. We believe this allows us to make a true difference in society for businesses and individuals.
Related articles: Support and Guidance to ensure we are all OK; RUOK? But…..; Managing Psychosocial Risks is simply good HR; Right to Disconnect?!
Leisa Messer BBus(HRM); GradDipIR; FCPHR
Managing Director | HR Strategist
leisa.messer@hrbd.com.au
07 3890 2066
hrbd.com.au