Culture shift needed to tackle burnout

AS NATIONAL Safe Work Month begins, Beyond Blue is urging Australian businesses to take proactive steps on mental health, with new data showing widespread concern among employees.

A community poll, commissioned by the organisation, found 88 per cent of respondents believed burnout was a major workplace issue.

Two in three rejected the idea it was a personal failing, instead pointing to systemic causes such as inappropriate workload (49 per cent), lack of management support (32 per cent) and inflexible conditions (21 per cent).

Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman said chronic stress and burnout increase the risk of mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

“Employees are voicing a clear need for greater consideration to be given to wellbeing in their working conditions. That means integrating wellbeing into how work is designed and experienced, from manageable workloads and adequate resourcing to leadership that genuinely supports them,” she said.

“Mental health at work must be built into systems that help people to stay well. That’s why it’s so important to build wellbeing into the systems and culture of work, not treat it as an add-on or something reactive.

“We want more organisations to normalise help-seeking and encourage conversations about mental health. It’s important they make it clear that seeking support is a strength, not a weakness.”

Of the respondents who had experienced burnout at work, half didn’t seek support for it.

Ms Harman said fostering connection, inclusion and psychological safety can create environments where people feel safe to speak up and express concerns without fear of negative consequences.

“Embedding flexibility and compassion into workplace culture, along with visible support from leaders who model psychologically safe behaviours, is key to supporting mental health,” she said.

“We also need to equip leaders and managers to recognise early signs of distress and have regular check-ins with workers.”

Given Australians spend a third of their lives at work, Ms Harman said, it needs to be a setting that helps rather than harms people’s mental health.

“Our message this Safe Work Month is that workplaces can be proactive about how they look after their people by improving their daily experiences of work. It’s good for your people, and good for your business,” she said.

The Productivity Commission estimates the economic loss due to the effects of mental ill-health on participation, absenteeism and presenteeism is up to $39 billion.