In a study providing importing lessons for all workplaces with a drinking culture or emotionally demanding duties, researchers have found that nearly 50 per cent of firefighters are binge or heavy drinkers, highlighting an urgent need to educate them on the link between drinking and other health and safety issues.
A first-of-its-kind study has investigated the association between day-to-day job demands, strain and "work-life interference", and identified factors that can counter-balance the impact of work stressors on work-life balance.
A worker who was terminated because of her post-traumatic stress disorder has lost her unfair dismissal and disability discrimination case, with a commission accepting her employer was unable to make suitable adjustments for her.
The physiological changes caused by "toxic" workplace stressors can be counteracted by utilising specific techniques to activate the body's relaxation response, a study has found.
By implementing the most effective psychosocial, organisational and environmental interventions created during the COVID-19 pandemic, a study has highlighted that organisations can continue to support employee wellbeing and reap the benefits of lower absenteeism and improved productivity.
As workplaces and communities become more "safety informed" and aware of the ways workplace safety culture impacts their personal wellbeing, employers need to be on top of their WHS responsibilities. A leading advisory firm has highlighted the essential steps employers must take to meet their due diligence duties, ensure they are prepared for WHS crises, and monitor and support the psychological health of workers.
A tribunal has upheld a claim from a computer worker, who began experiencing neck, shoulder, arm and hand pain when her workload increased, that muscle tension arising from workplace stressors was the main cause of her condition.
Managing employee mental health is a responsibility of all organisations, and understanding that workplace wellbeing is driven by "how work is designed" is essential to implementing preventive and supportive strategies, according to a workplace wellbeing expert.
