Two-Pronged Approach to Psychosocial Wellbeing

Summary of article “Is your workplace safe? Why psychosocial wellbeing matters” 19/09/2024

Workplace safety is increasingly focusing on psychosocial safety—the impact of work environments on mental health—due to heightened awareness and regulatory attention. A Safe Work Australia report indicates that mental health conditions now account for 9% of serious workers’ compensation claims, a 36.9% increase since 2017-18. Common causes include workplace harassment, bullying (27.5%), work pressure (25.2%), and exposure to violence (16.4%). Associate Professor Carlo Caponecchia highlights new regulations in all Australian states except Victoria, emphasizing employers’ duty to manage psychosocial risks inherent in work systems, such as excessive workloads, unclear roles, and lack of support.

A case study illustrates a construction worker facing mental and physical challenges due to extended project duration, inadequate accommodation, and isolation—issues that could have been mitigated through better policies. Unmanaged psychosocial hazards can lead to mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and burnout, adversely affecting productivity and increasing turnover. Practical steps involve proactive workplace redesign, management practices, and involving employees in decision-making processes.

Michael Quinlan’s research underscores that psychosocial hazards are longstanding issues requiring a multifaceted approach that includes historical and contextual factors. Effective psychosocial safety measures lead to higher employee engagement, lower turnover, and enhanced performance. The growing concern over psychosocial hazards stems from poor decision-making by leaders who may not fully consider workers’ interests.

The SpatzAI Approach

The Spatz Chat app (demo video on home page), is a social media app that addresses unsocial behavior within teams, including micro-conflicts (spats) and behaviors that disrupt healthy team dynamics,
such as being overly dogmatic or coercive during discussions. Spatz focuses on resolving unsocial behavior, like minor misconduct or micro-aggressions, in real-time to prevent such behaviors from escalating into toxic workplace conflicts.

At the moment we are developing an MVP of the Spatz Chat app and platform and will be keen to run a pilot at a university in the near future.

Similarities:

1. Focus on Mental Well-being:
   • Article: Emphasizes the importance of psychosocial safety to protect employees’ mental health.
   • SpatzAI: Aims to prevent unsocial behaviors that can negatively impact team members’ mental well-being.
2. Preventive Approach:
   • Article: Advocates for proactive measures to manage psychosocial risks before they lead to mental health issues.
   • SpatzAI: Addresses minor misconduct in real-time to prevent escalation into more serious conflicts.
3. Improving Workplace Interactions:
   • Article: Highlights the need to manage relationships and organizational culture to reduce psychosocial hazards.
   • SpatzAI: Targets unsocial behaviors to foster healthier team dynamics.

Differences:

1. Scope of Intervention:
   • Article: Focuses on systemic changes at the organizational level, including policies and work design.
   • SpatzAI: Concentrates on immediate, team-level interactions and behaviors.
2. Type of Hazards Addressed:
   • Article: Deals with a broad range of psychosocial hazards like excessive workloads, unclear roles, and lack of support.
   • SpatzAI: Specifically addresses unsocial behaviors and micro-conflicts within teams.
3. Methodology:
   • Article: Recommends management practices and employee involvement to redesign work environments.
   • SpatzAI: Utilizes a social media app as a tool for teams to resolve issues collaboratively.

Complementary Aspects:

• Two-pronged Approach: Combining organizational strategies from the article with SpatzAI’s real-time conflict resolution can offer a comprehensive solution to workplace mental health.
• Employee Involvement: Both emphasize the importance of involving employees—through decision-making or interactive platforms—to enhance psychosocial safety.

Conclusion:

While the article and the SpatzAI process operate at different levels—organizational versus team—they share the common goal of improving mental health and well-being in the workplace. The article provides a macro-level strategy for managing psychosocial risks, and SpatzAI offers a micro-level toolkit for addressing interpersonal issues. Together, they present a two-pronged approach to creating a healthier, more productive work environment.