We spend such a large proportion of our lives at work. So, it’s not rocket science to work out that how we feel at work affects all areas of our life! This includes our physical health, but even our mental health and energy levels and general outlook on life. Simply put, our life outside of work is directly affected by our life at work.
Mental Health and Wellbeing – A Responsibility
And the sad (but probably unsurprising) truth is not all workplaces feel good to be at and work related stress is common. Some jobs are high-stress and fast-paced, and can leave people feeling drained and taking a toll on employee mental health. There are workplaces that starting to realise that looking after their people isn’t just the nice thing to do—it’s actually smart business.
Let’s have a look at what workplace wellbeing actually means, why it matters, and what Queensland workplaces can do about it.
In this video you’ll see snippets from Kerri explaining how small changes in your workplace can lead to big shifts in wellbeing .
What is Workplace Wellbeing?
Workplace wellbeing isn’t just about fruit bowls, work life balance and standing desks, unfortunately. If only it were so easy. It’s actually about how safe, supported and mentally healthy people feel at work. Workplace and employee wellbeing requires an holistic approach to providing a safe environment – in both a physical and mental health sense .
Consider:
- How people handle stress;
- Whether they feel like they can speak up;
- If leaders notice when someone’s struggling;
- If there’s support before things hit crisis point.
When those basics are in place, people tend to work better, have better mental health, feel more fulfilled and stay with the organisation longer.
A Plan in Place for Queensland Workplaces
Here in Queensland there’s already a solid framework in place called “Be Healthy, Be Safe, Be Well.”
It’s used in the public sector but applies across the board. The big idea is that health and wellbeing at work isn’t just an extra. It’s part of the way a workplace should run every day.
There’s also WorkSafe Queensland, which has some really helpful toolkits for employers. They’re not complicated. They just show how to create a mentally healthy place to work by doing things like:
- Reducing stress and burnout
- Improving communication
- Supporting people early
This isn’t fluffy stuff – it’s backed by research and already being used by businesses across the state.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Here’s where it gets serious.
According to Safe Work Australia, around 1 in 11 serious workers’ compensation claims now involve mental health conditions. And that number has been rising steadily.
People who have to take time off work for a psychological injury are typically off work for four times longer than someone with a physical injury. That’s a big cost to the business.
In fact, mentally unhealthy workplaces are costing Australian businesses up to $39 billion a year. Yes, billion. Rather unfathomable, don’t you think?
That’s lost productivity, turnover and people checking out because the workplace just isn’t working for them. Poor mental health at work has a far reaching impact.
Wellbeing Initiatives – National Action is Underway to Improve Health at Work
The good news? There’s change happening across Australia.
The federal government launched the National Workplace Initiative, which is building a consistent approach to workplace mental health. One of its key tools is the Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces—a guide to help employers make real, positive change. Read: employers have a legal obligation to take notice and take action.
Plus, there’s a new national organisation called Mentally Healthy Workplaces Australia (MHWA). Their goal is that in the next 15 years, the following will be achieved:
- 570,000 fewer workers affected by mental ill-health
- 1.8 million fewer lost workdays
- $1.5 billion in economic benefit
Those aren’t just feel-good goals. That’s a real shift in how we work—and how we support the people doing the work by.
What the Experts Are Saying About Health at Work
The Black Dog Institute, one of Australia’s leading mental health organisations, has been speaking about this for years.
They’ve developed workplace mental health toolkits that are practical and science-backed. Topics like:
- Spotting early signs of stress
- Leading through change
- Helping people bounce back
They also point out that with more casual jobs, remote work and increased stress since COVID, people are needing more support than they used to in the past.
Why Employee Wellbeing is Worth It – for Everyone
Workplaces that take wellbeing seriously:
- Have lower staff turnover
- See fewer sick days
- Have better team culture and employee engagement
- Attract better talent
And maybe the biggest win of all? People feel valued. They want to come to work. That kind of environment pays off in every way.
How We Help
Kerri Speyers works with organisations of all sizes to help them put this into practice to improve wellbeing in the workplace.
Whether it’s a one-off training or a full wellness program, she helps businesses create healthy workplaces where people can thrive.
If you have a team that’s tired, stressed, suffering from mental health issues or simply feeling flat, contact Kerri to discuss how she can help turn that around.
