A recent Australian population study revealed that workers whose employers don’t prioritise their mental health and wellbeing are three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
Bad management, poor communication and a lack of autonomy all place workers at a higher risk of depression, stress and burnout. More Australian employees prioritise their wellbeing, with 35% saying that a wellness programme would be an incentive for them to apply for a job. This sends a clear message to businesses looking to attract and retain their best talent in 2021 and beyond.
Employee Stress on the Rise in APAC Cities
Back in 2018, research showed that Australians were some of the least stressed employees globally, second only to those in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately, however, it seems that stress levels are steadily rising; Sydney has been ranked among the top 20 most burned-out cities in the world, coming in at number 11 globally – higher than New York or London (which ranked at 17 and 14 respectively).
The APAC region as a whole has the biggest problem with employee burnout, with Tokyo, Mumbai, Seoul, Jakarta, Hanoi and Taipei all placing among the top 10.
Lockdown Impacting Employee Engagement
The rise of burnout and mental health decline may be a result of the COVID-19 fears and prolonged lockdown measures that have become commonplace over the past year and a half. In fact, 37% of Australian employees reported feeling less engaged while working from home during lockdown.
Flexibility is a Top Wellness Priority
According to Australian workers, the elements that contribute the most to workplace wellbeing are:
- A pleasant work environment: 44%
- Flexible working hours: 36%
- Realistic work expectations: 36%
In line with this, 83% say that flexible work hours are the most important factor for promoting wellbeing at work.
Flexible Models Enable Flexible Working
Australia is experiencing a surge in demand for flexible workspaces as businesses look to improve employee experience and attract talent.
Notably, demand in suburban areas is increasing as more companies embrace the “hub and spoke” model, allowing employees to work near home. For example, flex space occupancy in the suburbs of Melbourne increased from 69% to 73% in the past year, while occupancy in the CBD dropped from 77% to 66%.
A decentralised, flexible model offers benefits for employers and workers alike.
Benefits for businesses:
- Lower real estate costs
- Talent retention and associated reduced costs
- Wider talent pool
- Better operational efficiency
Benefits for employees:
- More empowered to choose how and where they work
- Reduced commute, saving time and money
- Improved work-life balance
- Increased wellbeing
Speak to us about renting a flexible workspace in Australia.
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