How mentally healthy is your workplace?
26 September 2024
5
min read
Australian workplaces scored 68 out of 100 on a national survey1 measuring mentally healthy workplaces. See what it might mean for your workplace.
A report by SuperFriend1 on Indicators of a Thriving Workplace found Australian workplaces scored 68 out of 100 when it comes to mental health in the workplace. It means there’s plenty of room for improvement in mental health among Australian workers and workplaces.
The national survey, in its ninth year, involved almost 10,000 Australian workers in 2023.
It included over 100 questions across 5 key indicators:
- Connectedness
- Safety
- Leadership
- Work Design
- Capability
Mental health in Australian workplaces
Workers ranked connectedness as the top-scoring thriving workplace indicator at 76 out of 100. The score suggests that many Australian workers have high-quality relationships with their co-workers.
The survey report said, for many workers, feeling connected was a strong protective factor for psychological distress, overall mental health, and general wellbeing. Conectedness also encouraged a safe space for people to be open about their mental health experiences with co-workers.
Australian workplaces scored 72 out of 100 for safety, based on what the workplaces did to make sure workers were free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and violence.
The survey found one in 10 people experienced bullying at work in the previous 12 months. The same number experienced discrimination. Workplaces scored better on safety if workers reported their workplace had a mental health or wellbeing policy in place.
Workers ranked workplace capability the lowest. This finding indicates workers want more skills and resources to support their mental health and that of others in the workplace.
Which industries produce thriving workplaces
Rental, hiring and real estate services was the highest scoring industry in the survey with a 72. Financial and insurance services came next with 71.
Transport, postal and warehousing scored the lowest at 65.
Education and Training came in at number 16 of the 19 industries with a score of 67.
Psychosocial hazards
The survey also examined psychosocial hazards, which are aspects of a person’s work that have the potential to cause stress leading to psychological harm.2
In 2023, workload, change management and recognition of workers’ efforts were identified as hazards most likely to lead to harm in the workplace.
On average, people also reported having too much work to do.
Psychological distress
About 38% of workers reported experiencing either high or very high levels of distress in their workplace.
These levels of anxiety, depression and other negative feelings are consistent with symptoms of a moderate to severe mental health condition.
And almost 1 in 3 workers reported some symptoms of burnout, while 1 in 20 reported being “completely burned out”.
Burnout is associated with lower productivity, lower intent to stay, and it also makes workers more likely to experience high levels of psychological distress.
How does your organisation measure up?
Learn more about the Thriving Workplace Index insights here
1. SuperFriend, Indicators of a Thriving Workplace survey: 2023 Key insights, accessed 22 August 2024
2. Safe Work Australia. (2022). Managing Psychosocial Hazards at Work: Code of Practice