Supporting health workers return to work after experiencing mental health issues
We understand that returning to work after illness within the health industry can be challenging.
There are a number of things, you as an employer can do to support your employees in returning to work following time away for mental health reasons.
In the policy renewal year 2018, it was recorded that approximately 48 million dollars was spent on mental stress-related claims in the health and community industry in NSW. This made up 8.82 per cent of workers compensation claims in the health and community industry, which was double the number of mental stress-related claims in the manufacturing and construction industries over the same period.
Identify and reduce mental health hazards in the health and community workplace
To make returning to work safer and a more comfortable transition for your employee who's been on leave due to injury, employers should make sure any hazards have been addressed and safety measures have been implemented accordingly to mitigate the chance of additional injuries occurring in a workplace.Employers should work hard to reduce any risks and hazards that employees could be confronted with in their workplace, especially any that contributed to an employee experiencing a mental health issue in the first place.
Mental health can be adversely affected by exposure to a range of hazards or factors in the workplace, including [1]:
- high job demand
- low job demand
- poor support
- poor workplace relationships
- low role clarity
- poor organisational change management
- poor organisational justice
- poor environmental conditions
- remote or isolated work, and
- violent or traumatic events.
Employers should investigate if any adjustments to the work environment are needed to reduce these risks.
Having conversations with your employees that have returned back to work after injury or illness is very important so that you as an employer can make sure you are doing everything possible to create a safe working environment. Organisations like Safe Work Australia and Beyond Blue have information for creating mentally healthy workplaces.
Offer flexible working arrangements
Employers can look at how the returning employee might be able to work flexibly while they re-adjust to being back at work.
Options include:
- working remotely
- part-time working arrangements, or
- offering extended breaks where needed to attend medical appointments.
Create a supportive environment
The reason the employee has been away may also make coming back to work particularly stressful. Returning to work can be the cause of some anxiety, but it can also bring a sense of relief and normality.
A supportive, empathetic workplace is essential in helping people return to work and feel well. It is important that everyone in the workplace, from senior managers to colleagues, understands mental health and how to support colleagues experiencing difficulty.
Steps and actions to create a mentally healthy workplace [2]
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Lead change
Learn how to walk the talk, inspire others to step up, and find new ways of working to support mental health.
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Create a positive culture and manage factors
Learn how to create a positive culture in every workplace size and manage factors.
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Raise awareness and educate
Do your best to support everyone's mental health at work.
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Connect to support
Discover how to access and give support when it's needed most.
"Others in the workplace will be watching to see how an employer treats and responds to a worker who is returning to work following a workplace injury. Employers who demonstrate flexibility, reasonable accommodations and supportive practices are able to work towards creating a mentally healthy workplace culture that encourages recovery and sustained return to work."
Jade Alexander, icare Mental Health Leader.
