Australian Bureau of Statistics have released a document on the State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia.
According to the ABS study, 45% of Australians between the ages of 16-85 will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. It is estimated that untreated mental health conditions cost Australian workplaces approximately $10.9 billion per year. This comprises $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $6.1 billion in presenteeism and $146 million in compensation claims.
Mentally unhealthy workplaces impact on employee behaviour:
• One in five Australians (21%) have taken time off work in the past 12 months because they felt stressed, anxious, depressed or mentally unhealthy.
• This statistic is more than twice as high (46%) among those who consider their workplace mentally unhealthy. (ABS link)
Businesses should consider a Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) in order to maintain a productive, effective and functional working environment. The primary goal of an EAP is to ensure the mental health of employees so that they can consistently contribute to the growth of the company.
Here are some important reasons to consider an EAP:
IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY: When an employee is dealing with personal issues, family problems or substance abuse, the result is often a drop in productivity at work. EAPs provide prevention techniques, assessment protocols and health management services. While helping your employees deal with life’s ups and downs, you are also ensuring effective company growth and development.
REDUCED COMPANY COSTS: Employee Assistance Programs are designed to reduce the impact that social, psychological or physical problems have on the employee in order to reduce the financial impact on the company.
INCREASED MORALE AND WORKPLACE HARMONY: A happy and healthy employee is a productive and effective one. EAPs ensure that your employees are well taken care of as individuals so that they can perform as part of your team. The added advantage here is that the employees know that the company supports them, therefore they feel a connection to the work they are doing and are more committed achieving the desirable results.
REDUCED ABSENTEEISM: EAPs reduce the amount of time employees take off work. EAPs provide a range of prevention and treatment options for employees and their families. In the event that time off work is required, the amount of time is greatly reduced and the employee is able to return to work with renewed strength.
REDUCED TURNOVER: EAPs effectively reduce the turnover of employees by managing work related and personal stress. EAPs improve the working environment in terms of morale and company support ensuring employees are well looked after, and less likely to leave their jobs.
REDUCED ACCIDENTS AT WORK: It is easy to see how accidents can happen at work when you’re stressed. A person suffering from stress-related symptoms will often experience difficulty with concentration, mental focus and physical function. EAPs look after the mental health and ability of your employees ensuring that they are able to function at the required level.
RESOLUTION OF WORK RELATED PROBLEMS: External stress often results in a reduction in workplace performance. Problems within the working environment lead to absenteeism, high turnover and low morale. EAPs look after the physiological health of employees, developing strategies for coping with external stress as well as work related stress.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: One of the great things about an EAP is they are able to connect employees directly with professional services. This means that your employees are getting the help they need quickly, dealing with and averting crisis situations.
If you would like any advice on Employee Assistance Programs, contact Total HRM on 1800 868 254.
Total HRM recommends the following business for EAP support:
Acacia Connection - Australia & New Zealand
24/7 Access to crisis counselling with qualified Psychologists
Access to Easy Talk text, email and Chat counselling – This allows employees to simply text to a special mobile that connects people immediately with a Psychologist ( Text counselling may not suit all counselling concerns). The most important thing about text counselling is it allows people to connect, quickly and immediately, where they are.
Manager Hotline – Modern work is challenging for managers, this service allows managers to call us 24/7 to at anytime ask us a question about managing a difficult employee or situation at work. This gives managers immediate peace of mind about their decisions and next best steps to take.
Step Psychology - Albury Wodonga
Services are provided by their own permanent staff based in the Step Psychology Albury consulting rooms.