Industry Thriving Score: Progress over Time
Education and Training is ranked 7 out of 19 in terms of workplace mental health and wellbeing in 2021. It has a Thriving Workplace score of 65.8, which is just above the National average of 65.6.
This is an industry that has seen a lot of pivoting from onsite to offsite learning across the year and it is not usual to see the scores across 4 out of the 5 domains to have dropped due to the extraneous work conditions.
The Policy domain has slightly risen, showing effective guidelines are available, however with a drop in connectedness and capability suggests this is not evidenced from the ground level, leaving workers reporting they do not feel respected, or that other people care. Reflecting this culture, is a further decline in culture and in the leadership score.
What’s working well
A rise of 2.4% in the policy domain regarding effective policies and practices against workplace bullying and harassment, speaks to the value this industry has in this area and their diligence in this work over the year. Due to the dynamic nature of teaching and learning, layered with speed of translation to remote learning, it is not surprising that there was a 2.7% rise in workers reporting that they rarely feel bored or disengaged.
Areas to focus on
Help workers connect with each other
With 59.1% of workers reporting they have experienced a mental health condition in the last 12 months, coupled with inappropriate workload being the biggest psychosocial risk factor, it would be beneficial to explore possible changes that are supportive of the workforce feeling connected and heard.
What you can do?
This would be a great opportunity to build capacity in staff to learn more about mental health and wellbeing and how to take care of themselves to ensure they stay mentally well, even through challenging times.
Keeping people physically and emotionally safe, communicating, monitoring changing needs, leadership, and getting people back to work – which includes providing support and flexibility.
A leader has oversight of the whole organisation. Building a Thriving workforce requires planning. Enrol in SuperFriend’s Elevate Your Leadership: Positive Strategies for Successful Teams training. Leaders will gain an understanding of the strategies and skills they can implement with their own team, including a strengths-based approach, building motivation, creating a positive team culture, cultivating a growth mindset and empowering job crafting.
Within this industry…
Psychosocial Risk Profile
Inappropriate workload
Low recognition
Poor change management
Poor management support
Low job control
Poor role clarity
Poor workplace relationships
Poor working environment
Traumatic events
Key:
Table – Psychosocial Risk Profile for Education and Training industry
Highest Psychosocial Risk
The highest psychosocial risk facing the Education and Training Industry is inappropriate workload and low recognition.
How can you manage this risk?
The combination of inappropriate workload and low recognition can reduce employee morale and increase the possibility of burnout. Leaders in this industry can focus on these areas to reduce the likelihood of these risks occurring.
Learn More
Explore a TED Talk by Psychologist Kelly McGonigal who encourages us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction.
Read more about the principles of good job design from SafeWork Australia.
Listen to Amy Wrzesniewski, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the Yale School of Management speak about ‘Job Crafting’ and creating meaning in your own work.
Check out WorkSafe Victoria’s page on how to promote workplace recognition and reward.
SuperFriend’s Be Your Best at Work: Positive Strategies for Success course provides individual team members with clear knowledge and practical ways to foster a positively engaged and thriving workplace.
