Managing Mental Health in the Workplace During COVID-19 Lockdowns

Presented by Emma Pritchard and Jenny Inness (Harmers Workplace Lawyers’ Executive Counsel)

What’s covered? 

Employers are facing a significant increase in serious mental health concerns within their workforces due to the ongoing impact of the COVID pandemic, and the extended lockdown and stay-at-home public health orders currently in place across many States and Territories.

Whilst working from home is an important safety measure at this time, the stress and anxiety caused by isolation and other associated stressors are giving rise to different safety concerns for workers from a mental health perspective.

In this webinar, Harmers’ Executive Counsel, Emma Pritchard and Jenny Inness, will provide guidance on:

How employers can identify workers who may need help:

• • Guidance for employers on sensitive and appropriate conversations to ascertain the health and wellbeing of your workers
  • Guidance on questions to ask and what not to ask when discussing mental health with your workers

What are your legal obligations as an employer in relation to mental health in the workplace?

• • Work health and safety obligations
  • Disability discrimination legislation (including reasonable adjustments for mental health and inherent requirements of the job)
  • Contractual obligations

What can employers do to carefully look after workers’ mental health and to maintain a positive workplace culture?

• • Guidance for employers on when employers can: Implement reasonable adjustments to accommodate mental health issues; Issue reasonable and lawful directions to manage sensitive mental health issues; Obtain independent medical assessments about fitness to work; Issue directions to take leave to manage mental health concerns
  • Guidance for employers to provide a supportive and positive workplace culture that can accommodate workers with mental health issues