2024 in Clinical Review: Unpacking the Annual Trends and Insights Report
At Acacia Connection, we’re dedicated to understanding and addressing the evolving needs of Australian workplaces. Our recent webinar, held in February, “2024 in Clinical Review: Unpacking the Annual Employee Trends & Insights Report,” provided valuable insights into the current state of employee wellbeing. Here’s a breakdown of key findings and how Acacia Connection can support your organisation.
Early Help-Seeking and Top Concerns:
- Prompt Action: A significant 63% of workplace concerns are raised within the first three months of an issue arising, highlighting a positive trend of early help-seeking behaviour.
- Key Concerns: The top presenting concerns include anxiety, general wellbeing, and work relationships with managers.
- Managerial Influence: Notably, managers represent a substantial 33.3% of referrals, raising questions about potential unreported issues due to strained manager relationships.
Seasonal Spikes and Psychosocial Hazards:
- Peak Periods: March and June saw a significant surge in help-seeking, with double the usual monthly rates. This aligns with financial year-end pressures and budget reviews.
- Top Hazards: The primary psychosocial hazards identified are job demands, conflicts in workplace relationships, and poor change management, especially during redundancies and restructuring.
The Importance of Workplace Relationships:
- Strong workplace relationships are crucial for employee wellbeing. Conflict and tension within teams or with managers can significantly impact individuals’ concerns.
- The correlation between personal and workplace concerns underscores the interconnectedness of individual wellbeing and the work environment.
Healthcare and Human Services: A Unique Perspective
- Demographic Differences: This sector shows a distinct demographic profile, with over 70% of those seeking help identifying as female and a significant portion being 45-54 years old.
- New Roles, Old Issues: 40% of those reaching out have been in their roles for less than a year, yet many have been dealing with their issues for up to 12 months, indicating potential carryover from previous roles.
- Sector-Specific Challenges: Key concerns include general wellbeing, conflict with managers, and excessive stress, with psychosocial hazards such as job demands, poor workplace relationships, and traumatic events being prevalent.
- Returning to Work: It is hypothesised that the older demographic could be related to people returning to the workforce after extended time away.
Key Trends Across Industries:
- Conflict and Poor Workplace Relationships: This remains the top psychosocial hazard, with conflict with managers being a primary presenting concern.
- Leadership Challenges: 18% of those seeking help identify as leaders, experiencing anxiety, stress, and conflict with their own managers.
- Traumatic Events: This is a rising concern, with a 50/50 gender split and 71% of those seeking help doing so for the first time.
- Job Demands: While still a significant hazard, there’s a positive trend of early intervention, with more people addressing excessive workload before it leads to burnout.
Acacia Connection's Solutions:
- Leadership Development: We offer training and programs to enhance leadership skills, addressing communication, feedback, and management styles.
- Professional Supervision: Group and individual supervision provides leaders with a safe space to discuss challenges and develop solutions.
- Psychological Wellbeing Checks: Our proactive program supports employees at all stages of wellbeing, fostering early intervention and reducing stigma.
- Critical Incident Support: We provide rapid response and support following traumatic events, ensuring employees receive timely assistance.
- Data-Driven Insights: Our dashboards empower organisations to monitor trends and implement targeted strategies.
- Mental health training for leaders: We provide training that allows leaders to recognise and address mental health concerns within their teams.
Addressing Conflict and Improving Relationships:
- Conflict can stem from various factors, including unclear communication, high workloads, and differing management styles.
- Acacia Connection provides resources and support to help organisations and individuals navigate conflict and build healthier relationships.
Proactive Trauma Preparedness:
- We emphasise proactive support to build resilience and equip employees with coping strategies.
- Psychological wellbeing checks facilitate early intervention and personalised support.
The Acacia Way
At Acacia Connection, we understand that every organisation is unique. We offer tailored solutions to address specific needs, fostering a culture of wellbeing and support. By utilising data-driven insights and proactive interventions, we empower organisations to create healthier and more productive workplaces.
