Workout: SuperFriend’s study for worklplace mental health

SuperFriend found nearly half of those surveyed left a job because of a poor mental health environment.

SuperFriend chief executive Margo Lydon says employers benefit from improving workplace mental health.

Non-profit mental health foundation SuperFriend has developed 38 characteristics to define a mentally healthy workplace, based on responses from business owners, managers and staff from its annual Work in Progress report.

Of the 1000 people surveyed, SuperFriend found nearly half have left a job because of a poor mental health environment, indicating there is a growing expectation that workplaces promote positive mental health. Only 17 per cent said they would stay in a negative organisation and try to improve the situation, compared to 30 per cent last year.

Chief executive Margo Lydon says employers benefit from improving workplace mental health with increased productivity, talent retention and long-term cost benefits.

“Three in four employees surveyed believe their company is more likely to recruit and retain the best talent by adopting mental health practices and initiatives,” Lydon says. “When you compound this with the increased productivity of mentally healthy workers, the reduced numbers of workers compensation claims and fewer absences — it is obvious that mental health is a worthwhile investment.”

She says that although employee assistance programs are important, preventive measures including mental health policies, training to support managers and staff, flexible work arrangements, recognition programs and friendly team environments can be more effective.

HR looks to future

The Australian Human Resources Institute is running state conferences from late March, to allow practicising HR professionals to hear about the latest insights, trends and discussions on the industry’s future. Guest speakers include innovation psychologist Amanda Imber and Global Research vice-president Sylvia Vorhauser-Smith.

Programs will differ in each state and territory, with conferences in Darwin on March 28, Perth on March 30, Adelaide on May 4 and Newcastle and Brisbane in October. Details: www.ahri.com.au

Tips for productivity

Improving effectiveness at work can be as simple as tidying up a workspace, getting enough sleep and making meetings more enjoyable, says self-styled productivity ninja Matt Cowdroy.

Cowdroy, who heads Think Productive Australia, says people can often achieve more in the workplace when happier, which can relate to meetings and the must-dos during a work day.

Cowdroy says having fun in meetings helps people focus, with tips including starting with a fun YouTube clip to improve the mood, awarding a prize to the best doodler, drawing pictures instead of notes, have people swap seats part-way through to get exercise and banning particular words.

Help for migrants

Refugee and migrant employment service AMES Australia has found migrants who are looking for work need extra help to secure jobs after completing English courses, because they struggle to break into the workforce.

The study of employment outcomes of students enrolled in Settlement Language Pathways to Employment and Training classes found only 24 per cent had jobs six months after completion, despite 60 per cent being available and looking for work. Of those working, 70 per cent had casual or part time work or jobs beneath their qualifications or experience.

The study of migrants who completed courses between 2014 and 2016 reported getting a job through personal or social connections, but half reported they had no support in seeking work and only a third were connected to the federal government’s jobactive program.