Earn
Millennials see boxes being ticked, managers see mental health revolution
Earn
Millennials see boxes being ticked, managers see mental health revolution
Millennials remain sceptical about employer efforts to address mental health in the workplace.
Millennials see boxes being ticked, managers see mental health revolution
Millennials remain sceptical about employer efforts to address mental health in the workplace.
Many young Australian workers feel that pandemic-prompted efforts to address workplace mental health are more talk than action.
According to research published by the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP), 49 per cent of Australian workers feel that their employer is taking a “tick the boxes” approach to mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
More than half of those surveyed said that they would hide a mental or physical illness from their employer in order to avoid being judged or discriminated against, while four in 10 said that they don’t feel comfortable enough to be open about their values, culture and lifestyle while at work.
ACAP CEO George Garrop said that these findings suggested that work still needs to be made on modern workplace mental health, despite the frequency with which such issues are now discussed.
“While over the past two years, many organisations have boosted their mental health, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion initiatives, our research indicates that these initiatives are not always leading to meaningful outcomes or positive sentiment for workers,” he said.
The research also highlighted a clear disparity between how younger and older Australians looked at mental health issues in the workplace.
ACAP found that millennials were much more likely than baby boomers to indicate that they don’t feel comfortable being open about their identity and interests in the workplace.
Alongside Gen X, they were also more likely to say that their workplace was more interested in introducing mental health initiatives that “tick boxes” and that managers showed little if any genuine empathy for their mental wellbeing.
For many, the shortcomings of managers and bosses when it comes to soft or people skills was a major driver behind these concerns.
Sixty-five per cent of surveyed workers said that their manager or bosses struggled with soft skills, including empathy, effective communication, active listening and emotional intelligence.
With one report by the Federal Productivity Commission estimating that mental illness-related staff absenteeism and presenteeism could be costing Australian workplaces up to $17 billion per year, Mr Garrop said that further and more meaningful attention needs to be paid towards addressing issues in this area by employers.
“The data also tells us that many Australian workplaces could be doing more to acknowledge the unique values, needs, personalities and circumstances of their people – and that managers and leaders could deliver a wealth of collective benefits through operating with key soft skills like empathy, emotional intelligence and active listening,” he said.
About the author
About the author
Earn
Top firm says five factors are fuelling the Great Resignation
According to PwC, the Great Resignation is showing no signs of slowing down. ...Read more
Earn
Most voters believe JobSeeker rate should be lifted
Nearly half of Aussies said they would likely vote for a candidate who promised to lift the JobSeeker payment above the poverty line. ...Read more
Earn
Should Australia’s minimum wage be lifted?
With the cost of living being a central focus of this election campaign, both major parties are in disagreement over wage increases. ...Read more
Earn
New research claims over 300,000 Australian households have 'no financial safety net'
New research has been released. ...Read more
Earn
Are property investors pushing prices higher?
The average price for investment properties was found to be nearly $170,000 below the mean national property price. ...Read more
Earn
Almost a quarter of full-time workers are considering leaving their current job
Younger workers are the most likely to be thinking about quitting. ...Read more
Earn
Young people are leading the great resignation
Almost a third of Gen Z and Millennial workers are actively seeking a new role. ...Read more
Earn
Women earn up to 37% less than men in the gig economy
A report commissioned by the Victorian government has examined inequality in the on-demand economy. ...Read more
Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now
What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now
Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now
Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now
Earn
Top firm says five factors are fuelling the Great Resignation
According to PwC, the Great Resignation is showing no signs of slowing down. ...Read more
Earn
Most voters believe JobSeeker rate should be lifted
Nearly half of Aussies said they would likely vote for a candidate who promised to lift the JobSeeker payment above the poverty line. ...Read more
Earn
Should Australia’s minimum wage be lifted?
With the cost of living being a central focus of this election campaign, both major parties are in disagreement over wage increases. ...Read more
Earn
New research claims over 300,000 Australian households have 'no financial safety net'
New research has been released. ...Read more
Earn
Are property investors pushing prices higher?
The average price for investment properties was found to be nearly $170,000 below the mean national property price. ...Read more
Earn
Almost a quarter of full-time workers are considering leaving their current job
Younger workers are the most likely to be thinking about quitting. ...Read more
Earn
Young people are leading the great resignation
Almost a third of Gen Z and Millennial workers are actively seeking a new role. ...Read more
Earn
Women earn up to 37% less than men in the gig economy
A report commissioned by the Victorian government has examined inequality in the on-demand economy. ...Read more
