How do you feel about work right now? Productive? Stressed? Burnt out?

We’ll take a guess and say that however you’re feeling right now, current economic trends are an undertone of those feelings.

Slow economic growth, stubbornly high inflation, interest rates that just won’t come down, and a fluctuating unemployment rate is making it harder for businesses to operate and grow. And of course there’s talk of a possible recession on the table – again…

With so many factors at play, it’s clear we’re all feeling an unnerving mix of uncertainty and concern. They can significantly impact one’s sense of wellbeing, which can seep into every part of life – including work.

You may be in perfect physical health, but do you really feel well if you’re in financial distress? You may have a strong sense of occupational fulfilment, but if you don’t feel that you can authentically communicate with others, you might feel excluded. If you’re feeling this way, chances are your employees are too.

The good news is, what employers do to support their employees’ wellness can make a big difference. By being informed about how your team is feeling, employers can make employees feel more supported, fight risks to their wellbeing, and improve overall happiness in every aspect of their lives.

Being informed and across the cold hard facts is the best place to start.

We spend, on average, one-third of our lives at work, which can be exhausting if our wellbeing isn’t supported. That’s why we surveyed over 1,000 workers from around Australia between 12 April to 1 May 2024.

We asked Australian workers about their mental health, how happy they are with their professional relationships, how comfortable they are talking to their manager about hairy topics, how they’re managing the current cost of living crisis, plus so much more.

The results are essential reading for any business leader in 2024. While some results might surprise you, others are crystal clear. Our responses sit on a scale from worrying to insightful, with some pleasantly surprising results to round us out.

In the 2024 Wellness at Work report, we cover;

• The important 2024 wellness headlines;
• The wellness progress report: 2022 vs. 2024;
• The great generational divide;
• Mental health and an unstable world
• How Aussies are holding up in a cost of living crisis
• The prevailing sense of mateship at work
• If Aussies and Kiwis differ or relate when it comes to wellness at work

We also offer a Wellness at Work Webinar where our panel discusses the key themes from this report and delves into the mental health of Australian and New Zealand workers.

Download the report now. 

Definition box: What is burnout? If you’re unsure what constitutes burnout, Headspace defines it as the feeling of being “constantly exhausted, emotionally drained, unproductive, and unmotivated at work”.