• Personal
  • Employers
  • Advisers
  • Calculators & forms
  • News Hub
  • Contact us
QSuper QSuper
  • Products
    • Why QSuper
    • Investment options
    • Fees
    • Financial advice
    • Compare us
    • Insurance
    • Account types
      • Accumulation account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
      Why QSuper?

      #1 fund for weathering market ups and downs3

      More reasons to join
  • Super
    • Grow your super
      • Salary sacrifice
      • Super co-contribution
      • Voluntary contributions
      • Spouse contributions
      • Contribution caps
      • Tax deductions
    • Consolidate your super
    • Find your lost super
    • Changing jobs
    • Nominate beneficiaries
    • Early access
    • Seminars and education
  • Retirement
    • Why retire with QSuper
    • How much super do you need to retire
    • Retirement planning
      • Make your super last in retirement
      • The Age Pension and Super
    • Retirement Income account
    • Access your super
      • When can you access your super
      • Withdraw your super
    • Transition to retirement strategy
    • Seminars and education
      Award winning

      SuperRatings' Pension of the Year three years in a row4

      Find out more
  • Investments
    • Investment options
      • Lifetime
      • Moderate
      • Balanced
      • Socially Responsible
      • Aggressive
      • Cash
      • Diversified Bonds
      • Australian Shares
      • International Shares
      • Self Invest
    • Performance
      • Overview
      • Graphs
      • Unit prices
    • Compare options
    • Change your investment options
  • Insurance
    • Insurance options
      • Income protection
      • Total & permanent disability cover
      • Death cover
    • How much insurance cover do you need
    • Change or cancel your insurance
    • Make an insurance claim
  • Advice
  • Calculators & forms
  • News Hub
  • Contact us
Join
  • Call
Join Log In - Open navigation
Member Online

Forgot username?
Forgot password?
Register
 
Upcoming outage

Due to required maintenance, QSuper Member Online will be unavailable from 9pm Friday, 26th February to 7am Saturday, 27th February 2021. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Navigation

QSuper
  • Personal
  • Employers
  • Advisers
  • Search
  • Join Log In
  • Products Expand
    • Why QSuper
    • Investment options
    • Insurance
    • Fees
    • Financial advice
    • Account types Expand
      • Accumulation account
      • Retirement Income account
      • Transition to Retirement Income account
    • Compare us
  • Super Expand
    • Consolidate your super
    • Grow your super Expand
      • Salary sacrifice
      • Super co-contribution
      • Voluntary contributions
      • Spouse contributions
      • Contribution caps
      • Tax deductions
    • Find your lost super
    • Changing jobs
    • Nominate beneficiaries
    • Early access
    • Seminars and education
  • Retirement Expand
    • Why retire with QSuper
    • How much super do you need to retire
    • Retirement planning Expand
      • Make your super last in retirement
      • The Age Pension and Super
    • Access your super Expand
      • When can you access your super
      • Withdraw your super
    • Transition to retirement strategy
    • Retirement Income account
    • Seminars and education
  • Investments Expand
    • Performance Expand
      • Overview
      • Graphs
      • Unit prices
    • Investment options Expand
      • Lifetime
      • Moderate
      • Balanced
      • Socially Responsible
      • Aggressive
      • Cash
      • Diversified Bonds
      • Australian Shares
      • International Shares
      • Self Invest
    • Compare options
    • Change your investment options
  • Insurance Expand
    • Insurance options Expand
      • Income protection
      • Total & permanent disability cover
      • Death cover
    • How much insurance cover do you need
    • Change or cancel your insurance
    • Make an insurance claim
  • Advice
  • Your account Expand
    • Online Advice
    • Super Expand
      • Consolidate
      • Investments
      • Add to super
      • Insurance
      • Account history & statements
    • Profile Expand
      • Security and Authorities
      • Employer
      • Employer
      • Personal details
      • Beneficiaries
    • Self Invest
  • Calculators & forms Expand
    • Superannuation & Retirement Calculators Expand
      • Retirement planning
      • Insurance
      • Maximise your super
      • Savings
      • Investing
    • Forms Expand
      • All
      • Claims and withdrawals
      • Deposits and contributions
      • Insurance
      • Investments
      • Transfers
      • Other forms
    • Publications Expand
      • PDS
      • Guides
      • Annual reports
      • Factsheets
      • Other publications
  • News Hub Expand
    • Category Expand
      • News
      • Superannuation
      • Retirement
      • Finances
      • Investments
      • Career
      • Wellbeing
      • Employer
  • Contact us Expand
    • Email QSuper
    • Language assistance
    • Browser support
    • Formal enquiries and complaints
    • FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
    • QSuper Member Centres

News Hub

All Articles News Superannuation Retirement Finances Investments Career Wellbeing
News Hub Employer

Encourage your staff to ask: Are you OK?

Career News
04 May 2020 5 min read

Connecting with your staff, and encouraging them to connect with each other, may be more difficult during the coronavirus health emergency. But keeping up these connections plays a significant role in the wellbeing of your workplace.

R U OK

Just as important as looking after your employee’s physical health during the COVID-19 outbreak is looking after their mental health.

Working from home for long periods of time may possibly impact mental health so it was important to support your mental health during COVID-19, according to Dr Jill Newby, Associate Professor of Psychology at UNSW and the Black Dog Institute.1

Dr Newby said working from home made it more difficult for your staff to have everyday or spontaneous encounters with colleagues. As a result, it was important to be proactive in organising meetings and social connections to maintain positive relationships between staff members.

Connect for your wellbeing

Staying connected with others helped to reduce stress levels, helped you feel less isolated, and helped you stay productive, Dr Newby said.

R U OK? CEO Katherine Newton told QSuper staying connected at work with simple conversations could even help save a life.

“We all spend so much time at work that we are often the best placed person to spot changes in someone’s behaviour, see when things are slightly out of the norm,” Ms Newton said.

You may think you’re not an expert, but we all can help. It doesn’t always have to be a crisis or a mental illness, it may be noticing something small. We all can help a person manage a load.”

It was important to remember that getting through a day’s work may not be the only thing the person next to us was going through, she said.

Connect to help others

Currently 3 million Australians are living with anxiety or depression.2

Research released by R U OK? also found:

  • Nearly two-thirds of Australians (63%) were not confident they knew the signs that someone might be struggling with life.
  • Of those surveyed, 41% hadn’t asked someone if they were OK because they weren’t sure they knew the signs.
  • Almost 1 in 2 people (49%) believed they’d be more confident starting a conversation if they knew the signs to determine whether someone was OK or struggling.

Ms Newton said employers and staff could create a culture where people felt confident asking if someone was OK.

“We hope to empower people to trust their gut instinct and ask the question as soon as they spot the signs that someone might be struggling with life.”

Trust the signs for mental health

R U OK? outlines three signs to be aware of when checking in with your colleagues:

What is your colleague saying? Show content

Do they seem to sound:

  • Confused or irrational
  • Moody
  • Unable to switch off
  • Concerned about the future
  • Concerned they’re a burden
  • Lonely or lacking self-esteem
  • Concerned they’re trapped or in pain

How is your colleague behaving? Show content

Do they seem to be:

  • Experiencing mood swings
  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Changing their online behaviour
  • Losing interest in what they used to love
  • Unable to concentrate
  • Less interested in their appearance and personal hygiene
  • Behaving recklessly
  • Changing their sleep patterns

What’s going on in their life? Show content

Are they experiencing:

  • Relationship issues
  • Major health issues
  • Work pressure or constant stress
  • Financial difficulty
  • Loss of someone or something they care about

What you can do

Simple steps to ask if a colleague is OK:

  • Approach the conversation in a casual and informal manner and tone.
  • Be sure you are having the conversation privately and free from interruptions.
  • Start the conversation with questions such as ‘I just want to check in with you and see how you are travelling? I have noticed a change in you in the last couple of weeks in that you don’t seem to be quite yourself. R U OK?’
  • Be a listener and listen without interruption or judgement.
  • It’s not your role to fix the problem. However, guide the person towards a solution or further assistance such as a manager, trusted family member, GP or counsellor.
  • After the conversation, check back in. Keep up that connection, an open ear can be life changing.

Source: RU OK?, Let’s talk about mental health.

communication

Some conversations need professional help.

Never hesitate to reach out.


1 Newby, J, Blackdog Institute, 25 March 2020, Working from home: A checklist to support your mental health during Coronavirus accessed 20 April 2020 at www.blackdoginstitute.org.au

2 Beyond Blue, accessed 1 September 2019 at https://www.beyondblue.org.au

Related Content
Investment returns QSuper: An industry leader in times of volatility
24 Apr 5 MIN READ

Despite recent market volatility, QSuper’s Balanced investment option has led the industry in investment performance over the past three months.

Read more
News Investments Superannuation
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...
Investment returns QSuper: An industry leader in times of volatility
24 Apr 5 MIN READ

Despite recent market volatility, QSuper’s Balanced investment option has led the industry in investment performance over the past three months.

Read more
News Investments Superannuation
Social media 10 Career boosting social media tips
31 May 6 MIN READ

10 tips on using social media.

Read more
Career
Next level Taking your career to the next level
31 May 6 MIN READ

Tips on starting your new job and setting yourself up for success.

Read more
Career
Woman shaking hands Superannuation - an untapped employee benefit
16 Feb 7 MIN READ

From an employer’s point of view, superannuation is not just an obligation but an untapped opportunity that may support employee acquisition, retention and productivity.

Read more
Employer
All Articles News Superannuation Retirement Finances Investments Career Wellbeing
  • Our products
    • Why QSuper?
    • Investment options
    • Fees
    • Insurance
    • Financial advice
  • Super & retirement
    • How much do you need?
    • Grow your super
    • Consolidate
    • Changing jobs
    • Seminars
    • Access your super
  • Investments
    • Performance
    • Unit prices
    • Graphs
    • Compare options
  • Calculators & Forms
    • Calculators
    • Forms
    • Publications
  • Contact us
    • 1300 360 750
      Mon-Fri   8.00am to 6.00pm AEST
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy
  • Security
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms and conditions
  • Disclosure
© QSuper Board
2020 awards
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube