Australian workplaces are failing to prioritise their employees’ health and wellbeing according to data from leading workplace safety organisation SAI Global.

SAI Global reports half of Aussie workers have admitted bosses fail to send sick employees home, 2 in 5 have said work overload and stress is rife, and 1 in 3 suggest inadequate training is provided.

Forty-two (42) per cent of respondents also admitted that their workplace requires regular work overload and/or the need to rush tasks, resulting in significant employee stress. More than a third said they get unrealistic KPIs from management – also a significant stressor.

Employees in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia also reported receiving the most unrealistic KPIs from management: 37 per cent of respondents in these states reported that this was a significant cause of stress.

“Employers have a primary duty of care when it comes to the health and safety of workers – from observing all health and safety legislation, to ensuring that all work is conducted without risk to workers’ health and safety. However, our research shows that many employers are not meeting these basic responsibilities.” said Rod Beath, workplace safety spokesperson at SAI Global,

SAI Global’s  six tips to improve health and wellbeing in the workplace

Promote an open and trusting management style and environment. 

Regular catchups between managers and staff, support and training programs, and return-to-work programs can go a long way in ensuring employees feel that their health and wellbeing is a workplace priority. Training managers to consider the mental wellbeing of staff also creates an environment where they feel safer and more comfortable. 

Encourage work-life balance. 

Work-life balance is an important aspect of a healthy work environment and employers should look to offer flexible start and finish times so employees can fit in important lifestyle needs. This will give them a greater sense of agency over when they work, what they do, and how they can work in relation to others. It will also help to prevent burnout – which is also in the employer’s best interests.

 Create clear job roles and responsibilities 

Change – especially when it threatens stable or comfortable routines – can be unsettling. If workers express anxiety about change, employers should remain transparent and honest about the process. It’s vital they provide clarity in a job description, too. Setting clear roles and responsibilities, especially formal ones, helps employees know what is expected of them and more closely aligns their roles with a company’s goals.

Promote open communication and strong social networks

Employees thrive on friendships and good social interaction, so it is important to create a workplace where people enjoy coming to work. Having open communication, opportunities for team connectedness and social events, and celebrating wins and achievements, are the types of workplace ingredients that go into developing a mentally healthy workplace culture.

Reward good work. 

Fulfilling careers are built on good experiences, and so employers should ensure they reward their workers on their individual efforts. This will improve employee satisfaction, making them feel supported and empowered in their roles. In turn, it will increase their productivity at work – especially if they are aware of how their efforts create an impact on the organisation.

Engage workers in the formulation of wellness programs

It is extremely important that workers participate not just in the execution of a wellness program, but in its design. By involving them in the engagement process early, they will soon ‘walk the talk’. Employers should also think about the particular needs of their workplace demographic. SAI Global has found that some of the best wellness programs have not started as a top-led initiative, but as a bottom-up approach. This is usually with an employee who has a strong personal passion and is keen to grow this into a company-wide initiative.