Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace in Australia

Transcription

1 Podcast Psychosocial Risk & It s Impact in Australian Workplaces: Results from the Australian Workplace Barometer Professor Maureen Dollard Penny Richards Wes McTernan Tessa Bailey Bill Daniels Sarven McLinton Centre for Applied Psychological Research, Work & Stress Research Group, University of South Australia

2 Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace in Australia Psychosocial risks include: Work pressure Work intensification Long work hours Low job control Low concern for worker well being Bullying & Harassment Psychosocial risks within an organisation are related to poor health, and poor motivational and productivity outcomes for workers.

3 The prevalence of work related stress & depression in the workplace Table showing frequency and population figures for clinical levels of depression Depression Valid Cumulative Population Frequency % Categories % % Figure None Mild Moderate to Severe Missing Total Based on ABS (2011) working population figures this would suggest that approximately 2.1 million working Australians are suffering mild symptoms of depression (21%) Nearly 7% moderate to severe depression

4 Prevalence of Work related Stress At law workers in Australia may receive workers compensation for a stress related illness, a disorder of the mind, if the work place was a substantial cause of the disorder Disorders are assessed by psychological standards such as the DSM 4, or ICD 10 Stress claims can cost as much as $20, 000 AUD and time off is usually longer than for other types of injuries Although stress claim rates have stabilised in recent times, levels appear to be increasing in some sectors

5 The impact of work related stress Cost to Employers (McTernan & Dollard, In Review) In 2009 depression contributed to a $7.99 billion productivity loss to employers mostly due to mild depression Of this, $ million was attributable to Job Strain $ million due to Workplace Bullying

6 Total Poor Health Outcome Score by Industry* Total Poor Health Outcome score by Industry Wholesale trade Transport and storage Retail trade Property and business services Personal and other services Mining Manufacturing Health and community services Government administration and defense Finance and insurance Electricity, gas and water supply Education Cultural and recreational services Construction Communications services Agriculture, forestry and fishing Accommodation, cafes and restaurants *Poor Worker Health is measured by Depression, Psychological Distress, Emotional Exhaustion and General Physical Health Adjusted Score (McTernan & Dollard, In Review)

7 Physical & Psychological Demands by Industry in Australia Physical Demands by Industry Wholesale trade Transport and storage Retail trade Property and business services Personal and other services Mining Manufacturing Health and community services Government administration and Finance and insurance Electricity, gas and water supply Education Cultural and recreational services Construction Communications services Agriculture, forestry and fishing Accommodation, cafes and restaurants Physical Demands Psychological Demands by Industry Wholesale trade Transport and storage Retail trade Property and business services Personal and other services Mining Manufacturing Health and community services Government administration and Finance and insurance Electricity, gas and water supply Education Cultural and recreational services Construction Communications services Agriculture, forestry and fishing Accommodation, cafes and Psychological Demands

8 Total Risk Factor Score by Industry for Job Demands* Total Risk Factor Score by Industry Wholesale trade Transport and storage Retail trade Property and business services Personal and other services Mining Manufacturing Health and community services Government administration and defense Finance and insurance Electricity, gas and water supply Education Cultural and recreational services Construction Communications services Agriculture, forestry and fishing Accommodation, cafes and restaurants Adjusted Score *Job demands are measured by Emotional Demands, Psychological Demands, Physical Demands, Harassment, Bullying & PSC (reversescored). (McTernan & Dollard, In Review)

9 Bullying & Harassment Laws in Australian workplaces Bullying is defined as repeated unreasonable behaviour... that creates risk to health and safety (Productivity Commission 2010 p.288) Bullying is experienced by 3.5 % 21.5 % of the working population (Productivity Commission, 2010) conservative estimate due to lack of prevalence studies in Australia. In Australia bullying is directly covered by the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986 Harassment is covered by anti discrimination legislation However the research suggests that bullying it is likely to be experienced by between 3.5 per cent to 21.5 per cent of the working population (Productivity Commission 2010) to Australian employees are victims of bullying behaviour each year. Research has demonstrated that being a victim of, or so much as witnessing, workplace Bullying is related to: Physical health problems Depression Anxiety Psychological distress Negative affectivity Cardiovascular disease (Hanson, Hogh, PerssonKarlson, Garde, & Orbaek, 2006; Kivimäki, Virtanen, Vartia, Elovainio, Vahtera, & Keltikangas Järvinen, 2003).

10 The most frequent form of harassment in Australia Results show that less than 5 % of participants have experienced unwanted sexual advances 6.2 % experienced physical assaults or threats 6.4 % experienced negative comments regarding ethnicity or racial background Nearly 10% experienced unfair treatment due to gender Nearly 20 % experienced discomfort listening to sexual humour. The highest results for harassment reported by approximately one third (33.2 %) of participants was being sworn or yelled at in their workplace which equates to approximately 3.4 million employees.

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12 Australian Workplace Barometer: National Surveillance of Psychosocial Risk Factors

13 Psychosocial safety climate Extended Health Erosion Path Psychosocial safety climate Demands Resources Psychological Health Engagement Safety Outcomes Accidents Injuries Errors Quality of Service Quality of Care Extended Motivational Path Primary Prevention Secondary Intervention Tertiary Intervention

14 Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) PSC encompasses the organisational policies and procedures and management practices that precede psychosocial risk factors PSC is measured at the organisational level, and reflects the amount of value management place on the psychosocial health, safety and wellbeing of employees.

15 Psychosocial Safety Climate It has been clearly demonstrated that organisational policies, practices and procedures aimed at the protection of worker psychological health & safety are very influential in the prevention of hazardous behaviours & corresponding poor health & productivity outcomes (Idris, Dollard & Winefield, 2011)

16 Psychosocial Safety Climate in effect High levels of PSC can significantly reduce the impact of organisational demands and resources on employee health and productivity. (Law, Dollard, Tuckey & Dormann, 2011)

17 Psychosocial Safety Climate in effect (Law, Dollard, Tuckey & Dormann, 2011) In high PSC organisations, the relationship between bullying & harassment and consequential psychological distress is reduced.

18 Psychosocial Safety Climate in effect (Law, Dollard, Tuckey & Dormann, 2011) In high PSC organisations, the relationship between bullying & harassment and consequential emotional exhaustion is reduced.

19 Psychosocial Safety Climate in effect (Law, Dollard, Tuckey & Dormann, 2011) In high PSC organisations, the relationship between bullying & harassment and consequential disengagement is reduced.

20 Key priorities for psychosocial safety of workers and organisations We know PSC is correlated with motivational outcomes, health outcomes, job resources and job demands. Increase PSC by implementing policies, procedures and practices aimed at the psychosocial wellbeing of workers. Train management to understand the costs involved when psychosocial safety is not prioritised. Increase resources where possible, i.e. supervisor support, organisational procedural justice, macrodecision latitude & management transparency, team building, etc.

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22 Acknowledgement Project funded by DP087900, ARC Discovery. M.F. Dollard, A.H. Winefield, A.D. LaMontagne, A. W. Taylor, A.B. Bakker, C. Mustard Working wounded or engaged? Australian work conditions and consequences through the lens of the Job Demands Resources Model

23 References Dollard, M.F., & McTernan, W. (2011). Psychosocial safety climate a multilevel theory of work stress in the health and community sector,an International Journal for Epidemiology and Psychiatric Services, 1 7, Cambridge University Press. Law, R., Dollard, M.F., Tuckey, M.R., & Dormann, C. (2011). Psychosocial safety climate as a lead indicator of workplace bullying and harassment, job resources, psychological health and employee engagement, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 43, Dollard, M.F., & Bakker, A. B Psychosocial safety climate as a precursor to conducive work environments, psychological health problems, and employee engagement. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83, Hall, G.B., Dollard, M.F., & Coward, J. (2010). Psychosocial Safety Climate: Development of the PSC 12. International Journal of Stress Management, 4, Australian Workplace Barometer: Psychosocial safety climate and working conditions in Australia, Federation Press (in preparation)