Training not the 'Silver Bullet' for Improved Health and Wellbeing

Two in five workers say their work adversely affects their health and wellbeing, but there are four key areas of focus that are extremely useful for employers looking to improve this measure, according to a new report.

The Health and Safety Index is an online assessment that enables organisations to measure and improve on safety leadership, engagement, systems, and mental health/wellbeing.

There were over 120,000 responses across several Australian and New Zealand industries during 2020.

FEFO Consulting, who run the index, said the results show that “training” is often not the silver bullet to improve health and wellbeing.

Acknowledging that every organisation has different needs, FEFO says there are four key areas of focus that are extremely useful to improve workplace health and wellbeing.

• Values and beliefs: Promoting positive values and beliefs, effectively managing workplace bullying and personal respect. This includes setting clear expectations by linking job goals with organisational strategy.
• Job control: Providing realistic time pressures, expectations, providing reasonable levels of job autonomy and decision making freedom.
• Trust in leadership: Leadership coaching and development. This includes effective feedback to reinforce or redirect behaviour.
• Management of change: Effective and genuine consultation, setting clear expectations and managing uncertainty.

FEFO Managing Director Mark Wright and Director Kate Power will be presenting a free webinar on February 18 at 12:30 pm AEDT that will reflect on the Health and Safety Index results.

They say there are many health & wellbeing lessons learnt which are worth sharing and comparing to research, i.e., Job Demand + Job Resource = Work Outcomes Model.

Register for the webinar