Job insecurity could spark health crisis, experts ... - Health and Fitness

Updated

June 02, 2012 17:12:05

Photo:
Casualisation of the workforce has been linked to mental health disorders. (Giulio Saggin: ABC News)

Mental health advocates say that stress and anxiety caused by job insecurity is threatening to become a major public health problem in Australia.

Beyond Blue, one of the nation?s most prominent mental health organisations, says job insecurity is one of the leading risk factors for depression and even heart disease.

Beyond Blue CEO Kate Carnell says research indicates that the casualisation of the Australian workforce has resulted in an increase in mental health disorders and heart disease amongst workers.

With 40 per cent of the Australian workforce in insecure work arrangements, Ms Carnell says it has become a serious public health problem.

?Heart health is affected by exercise levels, stress levels, dietary approaches and so on, so bad lifestyle outcomes can cause definite heart problems and mental health is very much part of that whole mix,? she said.

?There is no doubt that job insecurity is a major major cause of job strain and job strain is a major risk factor for depression.

?So we?re seeing more depression in the workplace, we?re seeing more absenteeism and almost more importantly more presenteeism ? people who are coming to work when they are depressed without the capacity to concentrate enough, and that can be an issue with other people in the workplace.

?They?re coming to work simply because they?re scared of losing their jobs.?

The ACCI?s director of workplace policy, Daniel Mammone, says small businesses in particular face tough challenges in an insecure global market.

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?They?re not guaranteed that they?ll be trading in the next day, and it?s very difficult for them and their families where they?ve mortgaged the home and where credit is tight,? he said.

?There?s absolutely no guarantees for their survival and viability, so it?s important that those considerations are taken into account as well as those of the employees.?

The ACCI?s recent submission to Fair Work Australia found that the individual incomes of around 40 per cent of small business operators are below the federal minimum wage.

Not taking any time off is critical, because when that impacts on your pay on a weekly or fortnightly basis it causes a whole lot of other stresses that just snowball.

Gabrielle Whitehead worked as a full-time executive assistant for a computer company on a casual contract, with no job security.

She is one of the 25 per cent of Australian workers who have no paid sick leave. So for her, becoming ill was not an option.

?Not taking any time off from work becomes paramount. It?s the number one decision that you make every single day. So work always comes first,? she said.

?Not taking any time off is critical, because when that impacts on your pay on a weekly or fortnightly basis it causes a whole lot of other stresses that just snowball.?

She agrees that employers are under pressure, but says it is the workers? health that is suffering.

?It?s so easy to lose sight of the human being when you?re number crunching on your spreadsheet as a business,? she said.

?But no business should prosper at the expense of their workers.?

Topics:
mental-health,
health,
unemployment,
work,
australia

First posted

June 02, 2012 12:44:32

Article source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-02/job-insecurity-to-become-major-health-problem/4048518

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