The Wellbeing Lab Workplace Survey was first conducted in September 2018 with a sample of 1,002 randomly selected full-time workers representative of the Australian workforce. Since this time annual surveys have been conducted to better understand the factors that support and undermine workplace wellbeing. The 2022 report created in partnership with AHRI builds upon findings over the past three years and defines the top 5 truths the 2022 survey has delivered whilst exploring the workplace implications and actions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Truth
#1:
WELLBEING COMPRISES MOMENTS OF THRIVING AND STRUGGLE.
Our findings continue to consistently demonstrate it is possible to thrive even in the midst of struggle. Sustaining our wellbeing at work is less dependent on situations and more dependent on our abilities to navigate both the good times and successes and the challenges and struggles that occur. Unfortunately, workers’ resilience levels are waning, with only 43% now reporting they were Living Well, Despite Struggles versus 53.1% in 2021. More than two-thirds of workers (68.5%) felt like they were burning out at work. This is impacting workers’ levels of performance, job satisfaction and commitment.
Truth
#2:
WELLBEING EBBS AND FLOWS.
The goal is not to constantly “improve” our levels of wellbeing. Rather it is to become more impactful and active participants in caring for our wellbeing, so that we can effectively engage and function well at work as we navigate the highs and lows we all experience. Worryingly, levels of Wellbeing Ability and Psychological Safety (two of the three key ingredients that help us to AMPlify our wellbeing) are at a four year low with only 34.1% of workers feeling completely able to care for their wellbeing, compared to 47% in 2019.
Truth
#3:
WELLBEING IS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL.
The most effective workplace wellbeing approaches are multi-dimensional. Since 2019 workers’ individual levels of Positive Emotions, Meaning and Physical Health have significantly declined. Notably, there is a crisis for meaningful work unfolding. Only 39.1% of workers said their work was valuable and worthwhile, versus 47% in 2021, and 52.9% in 2020. This decline in meaningful work is being most felt by workers who were Consistently Thriving and those who were Living Well, Despite Struggles, who are statistically the best performers in workplaces.
Truth
#4:
WELLBEING IS NOT A SOLO ENDEAVOUR.
Our wellbeing perceptions, experiences, and behaviours are diverse and spread through a complicated web of social connections at the Me (individual workers), We (leaders and teams), and Us level (whole workplaces). Consequently, a systems lens needs to be applied across your workplace when it comes to effectively caring for wellbeing. This includes assessing and addressing psychosocial hazards in the workplace. Workers who often felt like they were burning out reported most frequently experiencing Unachievable Job Demands (93.5%), Poor Workplace Relationships (90.6%) and Harassment (87.9%) in their workplaces
Truth
#5:
TINY IS MIGHTY WHEN IT COMES TO CARING FOR WELLBEING.
When it comes to sustainably caring for our wellbeing at work, we often struggle individually and collectively because we set goals that are too big and expect results too fast. Almost one third of workers don’t feel comfortable talking about mental health (31.9%) or accessing mental health programs (33.1%) at work, but significantly more workers feel comfortable talking about wellbeing (76.2%) and accessing wellbeing programs (73.5%). Workplaces can make a tiny but mighty change in their workplace wellbeing investments by prioritising Workplace Wellbeing Artificial Intelligence Bots, Wellbeing Apps, Wellbeing Workshops and Wellbeing Coaching, the most effective forms of workplace wellbeing support.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Julie McNamara
Media Specialist, Mahlab
[email protected]
0419 595 688
