Workplace R U Ok? Not Just One Day A Year

IMAGE: SafeWork NSW reminds business owners and employers not to limit R U OK? to a one-day-per-year event, but to create a daily culture for overall wellbeing and safety.

SafeWork NSW has urged all workers to help build R U OK? culture every day, not just one day out of the year, to help create psychologically safe and healthy workplaces.

Historically, many business owners have only focused on physical safety in the workplace, but employers and business owners have a legal responsibility to manage hazards and risks to workers’ physical and mental health and safety in the workplace, under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

Head of SafeWork NSW, Trent Curtin said ensuring workplace psychological health and safety isn’t just a one-day activity and isn’t just a legal obligation, it is the right thing to do.

“I encourage all leaders to talk to their team about why mental health is important and to understand the benefits a mentally healthy workplace can have on the business’ bottom line, culture and productivity,” Mr Curtin said.

“Creating psychological safety in the workplace allows for open and honest conversations about mental health and wellbeing and enables and empowers workers to speak up and say they are not okay if they need to.”

Managing psychological hazards such as high workloads, exposure to trauma, bullying and harassment in the workplace, creates a healthier and happier environment that is more productive and benefits everyone.

Consultation with workers is the first step and a cornerstone of safety in any workplace.

It can include regular discussions with workers about safety, establishing a Work Health and Safety Committee or the use of Health and Safety Representatives to help workers raise health and safety concerns and be consulted about risks.

Employers can consult with their workers about mental health by using the People at Work tool.

It’s a free, evidence-based survey to help identify and manage risks to psychological health at work.

SafeWork NSW has a wide range of resources and toolkits available at their Mental Health at Work website.