Legislating for a safe workplace - can it work?

We Not Me

How much responsibility do leaders have for the psychological safety of their teams? Aren’t psychological hazards an HR issue?

Recent changes in Australian law require employers to take steps to ensure not only the physical but also the psychological safety of their employees. This includes identifying and mitigating psychosocial hazards in the workplace, which can have a profound impact on employees' mental health. But what is “reasonable”?

This week's guest is Ian Bennett, a legal expert specialising in employment and safety law. He lends his expertise to discussions on workplace safety, specifically focusing on psychological safety and psychosocial hazards in the workplace.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand new legislation that necessitates employers to ensure the physical and psychological safety of their employees, currently in place in Australia, but likely to spread
• Learn about the implications of these laws for team leaders and what lessons can be drawn from this approach globally
• Discover how to create healthy, productive workplaces where everyone still strives to do their best work

Episode highlights

• [00:08:18] Expectations on employers to provide psychological safety
• [00:13:40] How is new legislation being implemented?
• [00:16:52] The Australian public's reaction
• [00:20:29] What leaders should bear in mind
• [00:24:57] What employees are entitled to
• [00:27:06] Psychological safety in performance management
• [00:30:15] The downsides of remote work and "always being on"
• [00:32:14] What can leaders do today?
• [00:34:43] Ian's media recommendations
• [00:37:46] Takeaways from Dan and Pia

Links

• Connect with Ian via LinkedIn
• Conversations on Love, by Natasha Lunn
• Ant Middleton’s Head Game podcast
• Leave us a voice note