Care and insurance provider icare NSW will be hosting a series of workshops on social connection, with the first session to be held in Newcastle next week.
The Newcastle forum will take place on Aug. 8 at the Newcastle Museum, and is the first of five events that will be held by icare across NSW, as part of its contribution to a $55m joint initiative with SafeWork NSW and the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
During each session, Caroline Howe, icare’s head of research and design, will talk about the research icare has been conducting on social connectedness, as well as share with employers the tools it developed to build social cohesion in the workplace.
“There is international evidence that shows that workplaces with poor social connections experience higher rates of staff turnover, increased injuries, high absenteeism, and reduced productivity – leading to significant social and financial costs for employers,” Howe said.
Howe said employers need to consider the significant role work colleagues play in people's feelings of social connectedness and self-esteem, given that more than one third of their adult life is spent at work.
“We’re inviting Newcastle employers to come along to this ‘Research to Practice’ forum, where they can share their own experiences and learn more about these tools,” Howe said. “We’ll be bringing fresh perspectives, new tools, and practical tips to get your work team socially connected. We’ll help you identify areas where your own workplace could apply this research.”
Howe said greater cohesion in the workplace will bring “increased productivity and the flow-on of social and financial benefits,” as well as “enable the number of physical and psychological workplace injuries to decrease,” which will hopefully lead to reduced workers' compensation premiums.
