Is your office making you INSANE? Thousands of Australian workers have suffered meltdowns – and almost half say their workplace is to blame
- Thousands of Australian workers have suffered from mental health issues
- Almost half of those people claim their workplace is to blame, study has found
- Stress was major contributor, workload and deadlines top causes nationally
Thousands of Australian workers have suffered from mental health issues and almost half claim their workplace is to blame, a study has found.
The report by national mental health organisation Superfriend, which was released on Wednesday, looks into wellbeing within the workplace.
And despite ongoing campaigns to raise awareness around mental health, it still remains a major issue.
Stress was a major contributor, according to the report, with workload and deadlines being the top causes of stress nationally (stock image pictured)
Half of the 10,000 workers surveyed said they had experienced a mental health condition, with two out of five people claiming their workplace either caused their condition or made it worse.
Stress was a major contributor, according to the report, with workload and deadlines being the top causes of stress nationally.
The top three industries where workers reported that their workplace caused their mental health condition were manufacturing, construction and administration and safety.
Lack of job security has also continued to unsettle many Australian workers, along with work-related insomnia, the report said.
The result of workplace stress was higher turnover, with only 30.4 per cent of workers who were surveyed planning to stay with their employer over the next year.
‘When people work in mentally healthy environments, they typically feel more valued and willing to contribute to the organisation, the report said.
The report by national mental health organisation Superfriend, which was released on Wednesday, surveyed 10,000 Australians in a number of different industries including construction and administration (stock image pictured)
‘Workers also believe that investing in workplace mental health and wellbeing would lead to a reduction in sickness, absence and presenteeism, along with increased productivity and higher retention.’
The cost of workplace stress adds up, with about $543 million of compensation paid to 7,200 Australians for work-related mental health conditions.
There was also $750million paid out through life insurance for work-related mental health conditions, according to recent research by the Financial services Council and KPMG2.
The report went on to highlight the need for workers to take their leave in a bid to alleviate stress.
It said the a large number of Australians fail to take their full annual leave entitlements.
‘It is important to encourage workers to take leave and fully disconnect from work during that time.
‘The ability to detach psychologically, or switch off, from work is a key factor in realising the wellbeing benefits of taking leave.’