Browsing: Flexible work | Page 2

Employers should be arming managers against the myths, misconceptions and stereotypes around the ability of workers to work safely as they age, an organisational psychologist specialising in workplace transitions has advised.

An alarming "first of its kind" WHS survey has found that burnout rates are surging, with isolated environments partly to blame, while a new "WHS Radar" has warned of the "emergence of complacency" around critical safety issues.

An extensive research study of home and hybrid workers shows they have much higher incidences of musculoskeletal pain, and concluded that employers can take a range of simple steps to protect them.

A "formidable and direct" manager's email reprimanding an overworked worker for working from home was unreasonable and caused a compensable psychiatric injury, a tribunal has found.

Results from a new international collaborative study have prompted the authors to call for employment policies and safety laws that protect workers from widespread out-of-hours managerial intrusions, while new research by LinkedIn shows "loud leaving" supervisors can help prevent burnout.

"Covert" online bullying, domestic violence and being overlooked for promotion are just some of the psychosocial hazards faced by flexible and hybrid workers, and are issues employers and WHS managers are struggling to tackle, according to two senior WHS lawyers.

Being offered hybrid working arrangements is helping workers exercise for an average of 90 minutes more per week, and get dozens of extra hours of sleep per year, significantly improving their health and reducing stress levels, a survey has found.

• Right-to-disconnect Bill tackles "availability creep", poor health; and
  
• Anti-harassment protections extended to Defence workplaces.

Workplace bullying and harassment are overshadowing certain "sleeper hazards" in psychosocial risk management, potentially exposing employers to the scrutiny of WHS regulators, safety law experts have warned.

Employers are now expected to take greater ownership of the WHS challenges posed by global supply chain pressures and changing technologies - an expectation that will be enforced by regulators under Australia's new 10-year WHS strategy, which identifies six key emerging issues.