Workplace mental health injuries are on the rise as the COVID-19 pandemic persists and evolves in Australia and around the world.
New Allianz research has revealed that active psychological claims have increased increasing by 5% in the last financial year. Furthermore, Allianz's research of Australian employees and senior managers across industries found that 69% of Australian employees surveyed have not had a conversation with their employer about their mental health since the start of the pandemic. This trend remains unchanged compared to 2020 (69%).
Moreover, the insurer's claims data found that the average cost per active psychological claim is around 3.5 times that of active claims for physical injuries.
According to Allianz, COVID-19 has raised concerns about employee mental health and the lack of strategies that organisations have in place to support employees – with 43% of those surveyed saying their workplace has not introduced new mental health initiatives since the start of the pandemic.
“Since the pandemic, it has become harder to learn how to balance work and personal life – it is an ongoing issue that employees and employers are trying to get right. We no longer have those physical cues when we finish work for the day, the leaving of a building, closing of a laptop, or social interaction with colleagues,” said Mitch Wallis, the founder of Heart On My Sleeve.
“Employees want to feel supported and to know that they can switch off and transition to their personal life at the end of a day. It's more important than ever to foster an open, empathetic, and educated culture that respects work-life balance by providing a space that nourishes and supports mental health and well-being.”
Allianz also found that three quarters (74%) of the nation's employers have a plan to implement mental health strategies and express more empathy and emotional intelligence (39%), empower employee workplace flexibility (37%), and create a space that fosters safe and collaborative environments (35%).
Julie Mitchell, chief general manager for personal injury at Allianz Australia, commented: “Not all injuries in the workplace are physical; they can be mental, too. We're observing growth in the number of people accessing benefits for a psychological claim related to their workplace.
“What's more, while the pandemic is impacting injured workers' return to work – with treatments and appointments delayed – due to lockdowns, the loss of routine also has a direct correlation with an individual's recovery and holistic well-being.”
Allianz suggests preventive measures and resources as key to supporting employees' mental health amid the pandemic.
“The workplace needs to create a space that facilitates safe and secure conversations to ensure employees feel mentally supported throughout the pandemic and beyond. For this to happen, organisations need to constantly be updating and evolving their approach and making sure their team is aware of the support systems in place,” Mitchell said.
