Unlocking Workplace Wellbeing with the ‘People at Work’ Tool

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Introduction

In today’s legislative climate organisations are increasingly recognising the necessity of eliminating not just physical hazards but also psychological hazards. The Australian Government’s People at Work tool offers an innovative solution for addressing psychosocial hazards, enabling businesses to create healthier, more supportive work environments.

This free psychosocial risk assessment tool provides businesses with a structured approach to identifying and addressing workplace factors that may affect workers’ mental health. By proactively managing these risks, organisations can improve employees’ mental health and establish a culture of workplace positivity.

What Do Psychosocial Hazards Look Like?

Psychosocial hazards in the workplace can include excessive job demands, lack of role clarity, poor workplace relationships, bullying, or exposure to traumatic events. These factors can contribute to stress, burnout, job satisfaction, and even suicide, ultimately affecting every person and every process of the organisation.

How Does the Tool Help?

The People at Work tool helps businesses identify and manage workplace risks that may affect mental health by providing a structured approach. It supports organisations in:
✔️ Complying with legal obligations
✔️ Enhancing employee engagement
✔️ Improving organisational performance

How Does the People at Work Tool Work?

The tool assesses psychosocial hazards by examining job demands, job resources and psychological distress.

It provides a step-by-step process for organisations to:
📊 Assess Risks: Gather data through surveys and analyse it to identify areas of concern.
💡 Develop Strategies: Use insights to design targeted interventions that address identified risks.
📈 Monitor Progress: Regularly reassess to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies implemented.

Step Description Key Actions
Step 1: Prepare Your Workplace Lay the groundwork for successful implementation of the tool. ·Secure leadership commitment.

·Form a team to oversee the process.

·Tailor the approach to suit your organisation.

·Engage staff with clear communication.

Step 2: Conduct the Survey Run the survey to assess psychosocial hazards and workplace mental health. ·Register and set up the survey.

·Inform staff about the purpose and ensure anonymity.

·Consider delivery methods for white and blue collar staff (e.g. hard copy, shared computer) and time to complete the survey

·Launch and monitor the survey.

Step 3: Analyse the Results Review survey results to identify workplace risk factors and areas for improvement. ·Access reports generated by the tool.

·Interpret data to pinpoint key issues (Spring Safety Consultants taps into our organisational psychologist to help with this part).

Step 4: Take Action Implement strategies to address identified risks and improve mental health. ·Develop and prioritise an action plan.

·Conduct further interviews in a Focus Group to unpack those high risk areas.

·Consult staff on proposed changes

Step 5: Monitor and Review Evaluate the effectiveness of actions and update strategies as needed. ·Track progress and assess outcomes.

·Adjust plans based on feedback and changing needs.

 What Does the People at Work Tool Look Like for Small Businesses?

Although the People at Work survey is built for medium and large organisations (20+ workers) to ensure anonymity and meaningful results, small businesses can still take proactive steps to assess and manage psychosocial risks.

Small businesses can use a risk management approach, which includes:
✅ Identifying workplace risks
✅ Consulting with employees
✅ Implementing practical changes
✅ Monitoring progress

Benefits of this approach include:
✔️ Reduction in absenteeism, incidents, staff turnover, and training costs
✔️ Improved workplace communication
✔️ Increased productivity and job satisfaction
✔️ Greater employee loyalty and retention

Alternatives to the People at Work Tool in Australia

While People at Work is a well-known and government-backed tool, other tools are available to support workplace mental health and safety. Some alternatives include:

  • Government of South Australia Healthy Workplace Toolkit – A step by step guide to creating a health, safety and thriving workplace.
  • WorkSafe Victoria’s WorkWell Toolkit – Designed to help small to medium businesses address psychosocial risks with industry-specific guidance.
  • Safe Work Australia’s Risk Management Tools – Offers frameworks for identifying and managing workplace psychosocial hazards.
  • Comcare even compares the People at Work Tool, ADDRESS and the Psychosocial safety climate tool for free!
  • Organisational psychologist-developed assessments – Tailored surveys and interventions designed by experts for specific workplace needs.

 

Pros and Cons of Free vs. Organisational Psychologist-Designed Tools

Type Pros Cons
Free Tools (e.g., People at Work, WorkWell Toolkit) ✅ No cost to the business
✅ Easy to implement
✅ Backed by research and industry standards
❌ Less customisation for specific organisational needs
❌ Limited expert interpretation of data
❌ May lack depth for complex workplaces
Organisational Psychologist-Designed Tools ✅ Tailored to business needs
✅ More detailed insights and analysis
✅ Custom intervention strategies
❌ Higher cost
❌ Requires specialist support for implementation
❌ May take longer to administer

Choosing betwee free vs. expert-designed tools depends on factors like budget, workplace size, and complexity of psychosocial risks. While free tools are a great starting point, working with an organisational psychologist can provide deeper insights and targeted solutions.   Spring Safety Consultants partners with Fiana Wei Organisational Psychologist at Adaptive Psychology for our expert insights.

Why Your Business Should Act Now

Investing in psychological health and safety goes beyond compliance—it’s about valuing your people, your most important asset. The People at Work tool empowers organisations to identify risks, implement meaningful changes, and foster a thriving workplace.

At Spring Safety Consultants, we are committed to championing holistic workplace safety. By incorporating tools like People at Work into your organisational strategy, you can create a safe, healthy, and productive environment for your team.

Ready to make a difference? Let Spring Safety Consultants help you lead the way in workplace well-being.

References

Healthy Workplace Toolkit | Healthy Workplaces

People at Work

Psychosocial risk assessment tools | Comcare

WorkWell Toolkit | WorkSafe Victoria

Psychosocial hazards | Safe Work Australia

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