I recently heard an industry representative mention how much difference it made in their organisation’s health and safety outcomes when ‘psychosocial safety responsibilities’ were separated from the wellbeing space. It became clearer that the roles and responsibilities were complementary but distinctly different.
This reminded me of the gradual shift of psychosocial risk management from Human Resources to the Workforce Health and Safety space. Each department plays a distinct but important role in creating a safe environment for worker psychological health and safety in the organisation. This article explores the differences between their roles and how they collectively enhance the mental and emotional well-being of employees.
Human Resources (HR)
HR professionals are often at the forefront of creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. Their role in psychosocial safety includes:
- Policy Development and Implementation: HR is responsible for developing comprehensive policies that address workplace behaviour, mental health, and employee support systems. These policies ensure that employees are aware of the resources available to them and the procedures for addressing psychosocial risks.
- Recruitment and Job Design: HR ensures that job roles are designed to minimise stress and promote a healthy work-life balance. This includes clear job descriptions, manageable workloads, and opportunities for career development.
- Training and Awareness: HR conducts training sessions to educate employees about workplace factors that can impact health, and the resources and supports available. By encouraging a culture of openness and support, HR helps reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.
- Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs): HR manages EAPs, which provide confidential counselling and support services to employees facing personal or work-related challenges. These programmes are an important avenue for intervention and support.
Wellbeing
The Wellbeing department focuses on promoting overall health and wellness within the organisation. Their role in psychosocial safety includes:
- Health and Wellness Programmes: Wellbeing teams design and implement programmes that promote physical, mental, and emotional health. These programmes may include fitness challenges, mindfulness sessions, and stress management workshops.
- Mental Health Initiatives: Wellbeing specialists develop initiatives specifically aimed at improving mental health, such as mental health first aid training, peer support programmes, and access to mental health resources.
- Work-Life Balance: Wellbeing departments advocate for policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible working hours, remote work options, and paid time off for mental health days.
- Employee Engagement: By organising social events, inclusion activities, team-building activities, and recognition programmes, Wellbeing teams help create a positive and supportive work environment that enhances employee morale by promoting positive health initiatives.
Work Health and Safety (WHS)
WHS departments are responsible for ensuring a safe and healthy work environment by identifying and mitigating risks. Their role in psychosocial safety includes:
- Risk Assessment and Management: WHS conducts regular assessments to identify psychosocial hazards, such as high job demands, low job control, and inappropriate behaviour. They develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure compliance with safety regulations.
- Safety Training: WHS provides training on recognising and managing psychosocial risks. This includes educating employees and managers on how to identify signs of stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues, and how to connect workers with supports.
- Incident Reporting and Investigation: WHS establishes systems for reporting and investigating incidents related to psychosocial hazards. This ensures that issues are addressed promptly and effectively.
- Collaboration with HR and Wellbeing: WHS works closely with HR and Wellbeing departments to create a holistic approach to psychosocial safety. This collaboration ensures that policies, programmes, and interventions are aligned and effective.
The roles of HR, Wellbeing, and WHS in contributing to psychosocial safety are distinct yet complementary. HR focuses on policy development, training, and support programmes; Wellbeing promotes overall health and wellness; and WHS ensures a safe work environment through risk assessment and evaluation of controls. However, the specific responsibilities may vary across organisations. For instance, in some cases, WHS might implement the psychosocial risk management training for leaders, while HR might handle aspects around reporting or investigations. These variations depend on factors such as the organisation’s size, resources, industry, systems and historical approaches to worker health and safety.
Do some responsibilities sit more in one area than another in your organisation? Understanding how these roles are distributed can help tailor strategies to enhance psychosocial safety effectively.
What remains clear is that together, these departments create a comprehensive framework for protecting and enhancing the mental and emotional well-being of employees. This collaborative approach ultimately leads to a healthier, more productive workplace.