The Big Wake-Up Call
In the post-pandemic era, the expectations employees place on their workplaces have shifted dramatically. Workers are no longer satisfied with a pay-check alone – they want to work in environments that actively support their psychosocial wellbeing, foster purpose, and nurture their development. And if they don’t get it, they’re increasingly willing to walk away.
The stakes are high. Failing to genuinely prioritise employee wellbeing can lead to:
Increased stress and mental health issues 😓
Decreased productivity and quality 🚫
Higher rates of absenteeism and presenteeism ⏳
Rising turnover and poor staff attraction 🚶
A negative and toxic work culture ❌
The good news? You can supercharge your workforce and still protect your bottom line while upholding your obligation to protect everyone’s psychosocial safety – even on a modest budget. It begins with being strategic, proactive, and human-centred.
🌱 Promoting Mental Fitness: A Modern Workplace Expectation
Promoting mental fitness means actively supporting employees’ psychological resilience, emotional wellbeing, and ability to manage stress and change. It’s not just about addressing mental ill-health when it arises – it’s about creating conditions that prevent harm, enhance wellbeing, and foster performance. Mental fitness can include:
Encouraging positive workplace relationships
Supporting emotional regulation
Building self-awareness, optimism, and adaptability
Equipping leaders to have psychologically safe conversations
🛡️ Psychosocial Safety: A WHS Legal Requirement
Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws in Australia, employers have a legal duty of care to identify, manage, and eliminate (where reasonably practicable) psychosocial hazards in the workplace. These hazards are factors that could cause psychological harm, such as:
High job demands
Poor role clarity
Bullying or harassment
Lack of support
Traumatic content or experiences
In July 2022, Safe Work Australia formalised psychosocial risk management in the Model WHS Regulations, and several states (including QLD, NSW, and WA) have since adopted enforceable codes of practice.
🔗 The Link: Mental Fitness is a Protective Strategy for Psychosocial Safety
Promoting mental fitness is one of the most effective preventive strategies an organisation can use to uphold its WHS obligations. Here’s how they connect:
| Mental Fitness Action | Psychosocial Safety Outcome |
|---|---|
| Building supportive team cultures | Reduces isolation and poor support risks |
| Training leaders in self-awareness and communication | Lowers risk of poor supervision and conflict |
| Empowering staff to regulate stress and adapt to change | Mitigates harm from high job demands and ambiguity |
| Offering proactive mental wellbeing resources | Helps identify and intervene early on psychosocial harm |
| Encouraging work-life balance | Prevents fatigue and burnout, a key psychosocial risk |
Here Are Six Key Focus Areas to Help You get ahead 💡
1. Support Mental Health ✨
Australia has seen a significant rise in mental health challenges, with 1 in 5 employees experiencing mental illness in any given year (ABS, 2023). It’s now every organisation’s legal and moral obligation to be a psychosocially safe haven, not a source of harm.
How to take action:
✅ Provide access to mental health support, such as an EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
✅ Implement psychosocial hazard controls and protective policies
✅ Train leaders in psychological safety and mental health literacy
✅ Foster open conversations about wellbeing to reduce stigma
2. Embrace Remote and Hybrid Work 🏠🚀
The pandemic reshaped the world of work. Flexible work arrangements are no longer a perk – they’re expected. When managed well, remote work can boost engagement, reduce fatigue, and support diverse needs.
How to take action:
✅ Support hybrid working with tools, trust, and tailored policies
✅ Foster virtual social connection to reduce isolation
✅ Equip managers to lead dispersed teams with empathy and clarity
3. Build a Culture of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion 🌍
Inclusion isn’t a trend – it’s a foundation for thriving teams. Employees perform better when they feel seen, heard, and respected. Diverse teams are proven to outperform in innovation and problem-solving.
How to take action:
✅ Embed inclusive hiring and leadership practices
✅ Offer DEI training and safe spaces for discussion
✅ Celebrate cultural awareness and individuality
4. Redefine Work-Life Balance ⏰️🌟
Australian workers consistently rank work-life balance as one of the most important contributors to job satisfaction. It’s time to move beyond lip service and commit to real, flexible, people-first practices.
How to take action:
✅ Model healthy boundaries at all levels of leadership
✅ Offer flexible work schedules and check-in regularly
✅ Go beyond minimum leave – offer mental health days, carer leave, or parental support
5. Promote Physical Health ⚖️🏋️
Physical health fuels cognitive function, productivity, and morale. Yet, sedentary behaviours and poor ergonomics continue to plague modern workplaces.
How to take action:
✅ Offer ergonomic assessments and workplace movement options
✅ Provide access to wellness programs and physical activities
✅ Run step challenges, yoga classes, or team fitness goals
6. Prevent and Address Burnout ⚡️🤕
Burnout is no longer a personal issue – it’s a workplace hazard. It arises when systemic issues (like unrealistic workloads, poor support, and lack of control) go unchecked. Prevention is the best form of intervention.
How to take action:
✅ Design roles with autonomy, clarity, and realistic expectations
✅ Encourage breaks and protect recovery time
✅ Train leaders to spot and respond to early signs of burnout
Your Next Step: Make Wellbeing a Strategic Priority
Getting these six areas right is not only smart business – it’s now a core requirement of WHS compliance and a non-negotiable part of building a high-performing team. Employees are no longer willing to work in environments that compromise their health.
At Get Mentally Fit, we work with forward-thinking organisations to:
Build mentally fit, high-performing teams
Embed psychosocial safety into daily operations and leadership
Help you meet your WHS obligations with practical, impactful wellbeing strategies
📩 Ready to take meaningful action?
Let’s partner to build a mentally strong and legally compliant workplace that people want to be a part of.
👉 Get in Touch to learn how we can support your workforce
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