Click here to read an article published by Comcare that discusses stress and psychological injury
This article discusses the relationship between stress and psychological injury and the costs thereof. It provides information on the major causes of stress and psychological injury.
How to optimise employee emotions
For full article by David Lee click here.
Extracts from a Medibank Private (2005) study on the health of Australia's workforce
- Research commissioned by Medibank Private, in conjunction with vielife, found a measurable link between a person's health and lifestyle and how productive they are at work. The results found that employees with poor overall health status are far more likely to be absent from work, and nine times more likely to have sick days, compared to healthy employees.
- Employee morale and stress in the workforce contributed significantly to absenteeism and sick leave.
- The study also found that a worker's health status impacts upon their productivity at work. The healthiest Australian employees are almost three times more productive than their unhealthy colleagues.
- 53% of the Australian workers surveyed feel over-whelmed with stress and pressure a significant proportion of the time. Stress related claims cost Australian business over $200 million annually.
- 21% of the Australian employees surveyed experienced a medical condition in the three months preceding the survey.
- This includes back & neck pain (29%) hay fever (22%) heart disease(21%) migraine headaches(14%) and asthma (13%) significantly, 12% of those surveyed reported that they were suffering from depression.
- A worker with a Higher Wellbeing Score worked approximately 143 effective hours compared to 49 effective hours worked per month for a worker with a lower Health Wellbeing Score.
- The healthy Australian worker had self-rated performance of 8.5 out of 10, 2 days annual sick leave and worked 143 effective hours per month. The unhealthy Australian worker had a self rated performance of 3.7 out of 10, 18 days annual sick leave and worked 49 effective hours worked per month.
- Findings from workplace studies reviewed by Monash University suggest that companies that introduce workplace health programs enhance employee performance.
Research has found economic benefits of health and safety activities, as they help curb absenteeism and enhance productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, employees that participate in workplace fitness programs report improvements in anxiety, stress and psychological wellbeing, and importantly, even employees who don't utilise programs and benefits are still likely to be loyal and satisfied with the organisation for being offered the program in the first place.
