Building Resilient Employees

Article supplied by HR Business Assist

October is Mental Health Month and provides Employers with an opportunity to reflect on the measures they have in place to support employee mental health and wellbeing.

Resilience refers to a person’s ability to respond and adapt to challenges, change, pressure and setbacks. While individual strategies can assist employees to strengthen their resilience, employers also play an important role in creating a safe and supportive work environment.

Factors that may impact resilience in the workplace include:

• leadership and management practices;

• workplace culture;

• support systems and resources;

• organisational change;

• workload and role clarity; and

• exposure to psychosocial hazards.

Psychosocial hazards are workplace factors that may increase stress or negatively impact psychological health. Examples include, but are not limited to, excessive workloads, poor support, workplace conflict, low role clarity and bullying or harassment. While these hazards may be identified and managed appropriately, employers should also consider broader initiatives that help employees develop confidence, adaptability and resilience.

Indicators Of Low Resilience

Employees experiencing reduced resilience may respond differently depending on the circumstances. Common indicators may include, but are not limited to:

• increased absenteeism;

• withdrawal from team interactions;

• reduced engagement;

• difficulty managing change;

• decreases in productivity; and/or

• increased stress or frustration.

It is important to note that these indicators may have various causes and may not automatically lead to assumptions regarding an employee's wellbeing. However, they may provide an opportunity for leaders to engage with employees and determine whether additional support is required.

Supporting Workplace Resilience

Employers may wish to focus on creating workplace environments where employees feel supported, valued and equipped to manage workplace demands.

Leaders play an important role in promoting resilience. Managers who communicate clearly, provide regular feedback and maintain open communication channels often create an environment where employees feel comfortable raising concerns and seeking support when required.

Employers may also wish to consider whether employees have access to sufficient resources to perform their roles effectively. Providing training, development opportunities and clear expectations can increase employee confidence and assist them in managing new challenges.

Regular one-on-one discussions may also assist managers in identifying concerns. These conversations can provide insight into workload pressures, potential barriers to performance and any support an employee may require.

A positive workplace culture can also contribute to resilience. Employees who feel respected, recognised and connected to their workplace are often better positioned to navigate challenges. Employers may therefore benefit from considering ways to recognise employee contributions, encourage collaboration and promote positive workplace behaviours.

Building Resilience Through Change

Workplace change is often unavoidable. Business growth, restructures, technological developments and operational changes can all create uncertainty for employees.

When implementing change, employers may wish to communicate openly regarding the reasons for the change, expected impacts and available support. Providing employees with opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback may assist in reducing uncertainty and improving engagement throughout the process.

Resilience is not about avoiding challenges. Rather, it is about creating workplaces where employees have the support, resources and leadership required to successfully navigate those challenges. By investing in workplace culture, communication and employee support mechanisms, employers can help foster a resilient workforce while also supporting positive mental health outcomes.

HR Business Assist can support employers with leadership development, culture reviews, workplace investigations, policy reviews and other initiatives designed to promote positive workplace cultures and employee wellbeing.

Contact HR Business Assist | P 1300 138 551 | E support@hrbusinessassist.com.au