The State of Wellbeing in Australian Workplaces

THE WELLBEING LAB 2020 WORKPLACE REPORT

The Wellbeing Lab and AHRI conducted research in 2019 and 2020, investigating Australian worker wellbeing. The 2020 survey saw 1019 workers respond in mid-March, just before the closure of non-essential businesses due to COVID-19. The report discusses findings relating to anxiety and concern due to bushfires, COVID-19 and economic downturn, and provides data, strategies and resources that highlight how to best address worker, team and organisational wellbeing.

1. CURRENT STATE: WELLBEING IN AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACES

In its simplest form, wellbeing is the ability to feel good and function effectively as we navigate the inevitable highs and lows of work and life. Studies – including this one – find that how we feel (physically, emotionally and socially) and how we perform at work have a mutually enhancing cycle. Work provides opportunities for ongoing learning and development, meaningful achievements and connecting with others, which nourish our wellbeing. And when we feel physically, mentally and socially well, we bring more energy, focus and motivation to work and are more productive. Thriving occurs when we consistently feel and function well.

14.7%

AUSTRALIAN WORKERS WERE
CONSISTENTLY THRIVING,
VERSUS 18.7% IN 2018.

2. WELLBEING REQUIRES WAY POWER, WILL
POWER & WE POWER

Our levels of wellbeing naturally ebb and flow as we experience the ups and downs of life. Thus, the goal is not to constantly achieve the highest amount of wellbeing, but rather to use our wellbeing scores to help ourselves and others become more intelligent and active agents who can effectively engage in and function well at work, regardless of what life throws at us. How can we be more intelligent and active agents? Our findings indicate three key ingredients: ability (way power), motivation (will power) and psychological safety (we power).

51%

AUSTRALIAN WORKERS FELT
VERY CONFIDENT TO MANAGE
THEIR WELLBEING, VERSUS
49% IN 2018.

3. BOOSTING THRIVING: WHY OTHER PEOPLE MATTER

Caring for our wellbeing is not a solo endeavour. Wellbeing perceptions, experiences and behaviors are diverse and spread through a complicated web of social connections.

22%

AUSTRALIAN WORKERS RATED
THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AS
CRITICAL TO BOOSTING
THEIR WELLBEING.

4. REDUCING STRUGGLE: MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH

Feelings of struggle and stress are signs that something important for us is unfolding and needs our attention and action. It’s when struggle is ignored and avoided for too long that people start breaking. To avoid prolonging struggle unnecessarily, we must be able to notice when we or others are struggling, ask for help when needed and have the way power + will power + we power to ease our suffering.

31.8%

AUSTRALIAN WORKERS REPORT
THAT THE BIGGEST CAUSE OF
STRUGGLE AT WORK IS THEIR
MENTAL HEALTH.

Read the full report here

For media enquiries, please contact:

Julie McNamara
Media Specialist, Mahlab
[email protected]
0419 595 688