Media Release
7 December 2007
Culture of psychosocial care a key to stress reduction for workers
New
research into stress prevention in the workplace has shown that the role
management plays in communicating with and consulting employees is
pivotal in preventing psychological stress for workers.
Associate Professor in psychology and Director of the UniSA’s Centre for Applied Psychological Research, Maureen Dollard says organisations must nurture a climate of psychosocial safety to really improve their workplaces.
Speaking at the national Human Factors and Ergonomics Conference Prof Dollard also highlighted that participation and consultation with employees, unions and OHS representatives in OHS issues is very important.
“Workers need to feel they matter as people not just as positions in a workplace,” Prof Dollard says.
“Managers have a very important part to play in preventing work related psychological distress, and emotional exhaustion - its about developing a culture, the whole organisation needs to value the psychosocial safety of its workers.”
Prof Dollard says workers who feel they will not be supported in tough circumstances, who are not consulted or kept informed, are more vulnerable to stress.
“An organisation’s values and practices towards protection of the psychological health of employees should not be underestimated,” she says.
“In fact research shows that these factors turn out to be much better predictors of psychological distress than well known risk factors for stress, such as high demands, low control, and low support.
Prof Dollard says beyond being important to the health of organisations at an individual level, there is also a strong business case for stress prevention.
“The development of a climate of psychosocial safety in the workplace also predicts improved morale, work engagement, job satisfaction and sickness absence.”
Prof Dollard’s research findings are based on a 12 month longitudinal study examining public sector workers. The project captured the views of 230 workers.
Contact for interview
- Associate Prof Maureen Dollard mobile 0401639673 email maureen.dollard@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
-
Michèle Nardelli office (08) 8302 0966 mobile 0418 823 673
email michele.nardelli@unisa.edu.au