Top consultant explains why employee wellbeing matters more than ever
This article is sponsored by Corporate Crayon
Employee wellbeing is a multidimensional force, and organisations that genuinely understand, prioritise and measure it can create a thriving and productive workplace.
Corporate Crayon, Australia’s award-winning corporate health and wellbeing company, assists organisations to capitalise on this fundamental driver of current and future success. HRD has recognised the company with an HR Service Providers 2024 silver medal.
The team at Corporate Crayon is aware that wellbeing in the workplace runs deep and applies to all employees. It encompasses meeting employees’ basic health needs and providing opportunities to contribute to the greater good. Employee wellbeing is much more than a critical element of fostering a positive work culture that enhances employee satisfaction, productivity and overall wellbeing.
The Australian government recently reformed its Model Work Health and Safety Regulations released by Safe Work Australia to include psychosocial risks and a hierarchy of controls, reinforcing an organisation’s legal obligation to integrate psychosocial safety into its wellbeing strategies.
What safety means to employees
“Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) refers to shared perceptions of policies, practices and procedures for protecting workers’ psychological health and safety,” says consultant Dr. Chanvi Singh, an organisational psychology research fellow.
“It’s important to distinguish between psychological safety and psychosocial safety. Psychological safety typically focuses on team-level dynamics, such as feeling safe to speak up or take interpersonal risks within a team. In contrast, psychosocial safety is broader, encompassing organisation-wide factors that affect mental health and wellbeing,” she explains.
In modern workplaces, PSC is paramount as it creates an environment where employees feel secure to take risks, share ideas and engage positively with new ways of working, adds Dr. Singh. A strong PSC can mitigate the psychological risks associated with workplace changes, reduce resistance to new processes, and promote a culture of adaptability and innovation.
Evelyn Jackson, Corporate Crayon’s CEO, stresses that wellbeing at work enhances an organisation’s ability to retain top talent and boost performance.
“Our ability to understand how employees are affected by leadership, culture, workplace structures, systems and policies directly impacts our ability to increase wellbeing at work,” she says.
There has never been a more opportune time than the present for Australia’s organisations to develop their leaders and teams and implement wellbeing initiatives relevant to today’s environment.
How Corporate Crayon helps organisations
- The certified Barrett Values consultants conduct workplace wellbeing assessments to help organisations understand their people’s needs and motivations, complemented by actionable insights to ensure a productive and fulfilled employee experience.
- A new Workplace Wellbeing masterclass was launched in September 2024 to train leaders and managers in creating wellbeing and psychosocial safety in their workplace. The class provides awareness and support in compliance with current legislation while measuring and identifying psychosocial risks and improvements.
The model Corporate Crayon’s certified consultants use to measure an organisation’s workplace wellbeing is the Barrett Model developed by Barrett Values Centre.
At the heart of the model’s success lies an understanding of basic human needs and the workplace’s impact on the following factors:
- feeling secure and healthy
- feeling cared for by others
- being capable and effective
- becoming self-directive and growing
- being able to express oneself authentically
- becoming part of something greater
- contributing to the greater good
“Workplace wellbeing is a holistic approach to creating an environment where employees can thrive personally and professionally,” notes Dr. Singh. “It’s crucial because it directly impacts productivity, engagement, and an organisation’s ability to adapt to rapid changes. As workplaces evolve with new technologies, the focus shifts toward a more balanced approach that emphasises human factors alongside technological advancements.”
She adds that, while awareness of workplace wellbeing is growing in Australia, there’s still significant room for improvement in implementing comprehensive strategies that address both physical and psychological aspects of work, especially when navigating the complexities of modern work environments.
By systematically assessing psychosocial factors, organisations can identify potential risks and areas for improvement, enabling them to take proactive steps to enhance employee satisfaction and engagement.
Regular measurement provides valuable insights into the workforce’s mental, emotional and social health, helping to prevent burnout, stress and disengagement. Moreover, it allows organisations to track the effectiveness of their wellbeing initiatives and make data-driven decisions to improve their workplace culture continuously.
