THE WELLBEING LAB 2019 - 2021 WORKPLACE REPORT
A significant number of Australian workers (53.1%) reported they were living well despite struggles and were demonstrating notable levels of resilience as Australian workplaces began to prepare for the “new normal” in early May 2021 (prior to the latest Victorian COVID-19 lockdown). Building this resilience, however, appears to have left many Australian workers struggling to sustain their levels of wellbeing motivation, feeling less psychologically safe to talk about the struggles they may now be experiencing, and with significantly lower levels of positive emotions, meaning and physical health. They appear exhausted. This report explores these findings and provides effective ways in which workplaces can improve wellbeing.
CURRENT STATE: WELLBEING IN AUSTRALIAN WORKPLACES
As we have noted in previous reports, 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 ours – find that how we feel (physically, mentally and socially) and how we perform at work have a mutually reinforcing cycle. Work provides opportunities for ongoing learning and development, meaningful achievement, and connection with others, which nourish our wellbeing. And when we feel physically, mentally and socially well, we are able to bring more energy, focus and motivation to work and thus are more productive. Thriving occurs when we consistently feel and function well as we work. We might assume that thriving would only occur in good times. However, our findings have consistently demonstrated that it is possible to thrive despite struggle. Sustaining our levels of wellbeing at work is less dependent on the situation and more dependent on our abilities to effectively navigate both the good times and successes and the struggles and challenges that occur.
13.3%
WERE CONSISTENTLY
THRIVING, VERSUS
7.4% IN 2020.
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Julie McNamara
Media Specialist, Mahlab
[email protected]
0419 595 688
