Comcare is helping workers, managers and employers identify and manage psychosocial hazards in their workplace due to the launch of new practical guidance.
Issuing three guidance documents and a Managing work demands checklist, Comcare said work demands were among the most common sources of workplace stress and psychological harm.
Comcare said they may include role overload, unrealistic time pressures, ambiguity or conflict, cognitive and emotional demands of the job, conflict arising from tasks or relationships, change management, a lack of organisational justice, or a worker’s sense of fairness at work.
“Workers who experience high work demands such as excessive workloads, resource constraints or time pressures can often feel overwhelmed or unable to cope,” Comcare said.
“Those experiencing low work demands like repetitive or monotonous tasks, can often feel disengaged or underutilised,” it said.
“In either case, when work demand issues are not effectively managed workers are far more likely to experience work-related stress.
“Extreme or long-lasting stress is harmful and can lead to serious illness or injury to workers,” it said.
Comcare said poor health outcomes from work demands were far less likely in organisations with a supportive culture that rewarded workers, promoted early reporting of issues and championed proactive risk management.
It said employers, managers, and workers all had duties under the Work Health and Safety Act to identify, assess and manage psychosocial hazards which could affect the health of workers and workplace conditions.
Comcare said each guidance document was tailored to different workplace groups, with one document for employers, one for managers and one for workers.
It said the guidance for workers would help them understand work-related stress so they could report early issues and concerns and identify how harm could be prevented.
Comcare’s three Work Demands guidance documents and checklist can be accessed at this PS News link.
