More Aussie workers are thinking of leaving their jobs

New research reveals 37 per cent of Australian and New Zealand workers contemplate leaving their job every week.

Burnout and stress continue to devastate workers, with more than a third regularly wanting to quit their jobs.

Research by workplace wellbeing platform Groov reveals 37 per cent of Australian and New Zealand workers contemplate leaving their job every week.

Where workers do not feel supported at work, almost three in five consider quitting several times a week, while an astonishing 36 per cent consider quitting most days.

Prioritising self-care

Behavioural change expert Fiona Crichton believes bosses – already hurt by talent shortages and the Great Resignation – are keen to improve worker health but many do not know how.

“Fruit bowls and yoga sessions (for workers) are not enough,’’ Crichton says.

“There is a generation who want balance in their life and wellbeing to be a priority for their employers or, quite literally, they’ll be out the door to somewhere that does.’’

She says taking time to relax, connecting with friends and family, celebrating your achievements as well as those of others and engaging in activities you enjoy are proven methods to increase wellbeing.

However, she says bosses must model self-care strategies for workers to follow suit.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,’’ she says. “We need to see that it’s OK to take time off for my kid’s orchestra practice because we’ve seen the boss do that as well.’’

More Australians are stressed in the workplace.

Adopt flexible work loads

Chris Wilson, chief executive of Stress Science, which measures stress levels by testing cortisol and immune defence profiles, says maintaining high energy levels for work every day is unsustainable.

Instead, he believes workers – and businesses – should adopt a more flexible approach, allowing for less productivity during slower times to conserve energy for more demanding periods.

“We are burning people out at a much quicker rate - we’re losing talent and it’s costing a fortune (to train replacement workers),’’ he says.

At an individual level, Wilson says exercise, being well-hydrated and getting plenty of sleep are all simple measures to reduce stress.

“Once you can get a couple of night’s sleep, your mental health and the ability to function is phenomenal,’’ he says.

Be open about your struggles

A recent survey by LifeWorks shows half of all Australians feel the need for wellbeing support but also fear their career options will be limited if they disclose a mental health issue to their boss.

LifeWorks Asia-Pacific senior vice president Jamie MacLennan says while there is no obligation for workers to notify their employer of wellbeing concerns, it is recommended in situations where the ability to carry out their duties is affected.

He says legislation prevents discrimination against workers with mental illness.

“It (fear of discrimination) is more a stigma than the reality,’’ MacLennan says.

“Anecdotally, there have been organisations that were not doing the right thing but they are fast becoming the minority and a lot more organisations want to do the right thing and help their employees.’’

Madison Lindfield.

Mental health starts with wellbeing

Madison Lindfield didn’t realise the pressure she was under at work until she moved to a new company that valued wellbeing.

“I was so stressed but I didn’t realise the impact it was having on my broader life,’’ Lindfield says.

“When I made the transition to a different organisation, so many people said to me ‘you look so much happier’.

“It made me realise the impact stress was having on my relationships and on my free time because I would always push myself to work longer hours to get the work done.

“I was letting positive habits slip – I stopped going to the gym, I stopped eating healthily. I was so tired that I didn’t feel I was able to maintain positive habits.’’

Lindfield joined building materials giant Fletcher Building last year and is now working as a learning and organisational development business partner, where she coordinates leadership programs and works with employees to improve their business performance.

She says her company’s commitment to staff wellbeing has reduced the stigma around mental health struggles and made it easier for workers to reach out for help if needed.

“It’s amazing and so supportive,’’ she says. “I feel I have the space and time, and also the energy, to prioritise all those things (that enhance wellbeing) that I didn’t before.

“We have mental health resources that are readily available and they’re also endorsed by our leaders.”

Originally published as More Aussie workers are thinking of leaving their jobs