Australian workers are the most stressed in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes traditional workaholic nations like Japan.
A new report from human resources technology company ADP found Australians experienced stress 12 times per week.
ADP Australia Operations Director Judy Barnett said Australia was the highest rated country for stress in APAC, followed closely by India, where workers stated they experienced stress, on average, 11 times per week.
Ms Barrett said global People at Work 2024 report also found more than half (57 percent) of Australian workers believed that stress adversely impacted their work.
“Despite increased awareness of the importance of mental health at work, the findings illustrate that some Australian workplaces continue to struggle with supporting their employees in this area.
“This persistent workplace stress is not only detrimental to productivity, but also has a significant impact on employees’ mental health.”
Ms Barnett said the World Health Organisation recently estimated that when employees experienced good health and well-being management, performance was increased by more than 2.5 times.
“While many Australian businesses continue to prioritise the mental well-being of their employees, our data shows that there is still room for improvement.
“Even with strategic workplace programs in place, the lack of personal support and networks on the ground can still lead to poor mental health, which can negatively impact an employee’s engagement, job satisfaction, and workplace productivity.”
Ms Barnett said employers should consider re-evaluating existing mental health programs, normalising conversations around mental health and providing resources to help workers improve their skills in managing conversations in this sensitive space.
“Implementing or improving valuable third-party resources, such as an Employee Assistance Program, is also an excellent way to provide confidential support and help handle difficult conversations.”
Download the full report: People at Work 2024. A Global Workforce View
