A call for more businesses to take mental health seriously. Looking out for one another.
We wrote previously about how depression and anxiety issues are the leading cause of sickness absence and long-term work incapacity in Australia (Australia, Work and the Hidden Epidemic).
Sometimes you just can't make it in...you're not alone.
Rather than faking an illness, as part of our wellness programme at EGM, we encourage everyone to have one Doona Day per quarter.
"There's no stigma here at EGM about doing whatever necessary to look after your physical and mental health" said EGM Director Mark Johnson.
Poor mental health costs Australian workplaces an estimated $10.9 billion per year due to absenteeism, loss of productivity and compensation claims.
Around 45 per cent of Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 experience a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. 1 In a given 12-month period, 20 per cent of Australians will have experienced a mental health condition. (The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2007 National Mental Health and Well-Being Survey (NMHWS)).
Mental Health is not failure - the failure is to not recognise or respect the importance of it it in yourself and team.
"Our culture is everything to us and our people are at the very centre of our great culture...it's so important to look out for one another. We’re the country that brought the world mate-ship - it’s important we look after one another,” added Johnson. "Businesses that fail to look after the health and well-being of their people will be left behind".
PWC reported that for every $1 your organisation spends on making your workplace more mentally healthy, in the long-term you will recoup $2.30 on average. (Creating a mentally healthy workplace Return on investment analysis, PWC).
Key benefits benefits typically take the form of improved productivity, via reduced absenteeism and presenteeism (reduced productivity at work), and lower numbers of compensation claims.