Workplace Profiles

2021 Thriving Workplace Score

Rank

#15

of 19

Other Services

64.8/100

-0.7

64.8

-0.7

0
100

The Other Services Industry includes repair and maintenance of cars, machinery, equipment and clothing, hairdressing, weight loss, funeral, dry-cleaning or religious services and professional and labour association services.

Graph – Thriving Score for the Other Services Industry over time

Industry Thriving Score: Progress over Time

Ranked 15th (out of 19) in terms of workplace mental health and wellbeing in Australia overall, this industry is tracking well below the national average thriving index of 65.6. The culture domain has seen the most dramatic decrease relative to last year, which parallels the decreases across the connectedness, capability, and policy domains.

The leadership domain has moderately increased relative to last years score, reflecting positive growth on this domain overall since 2018. With more than half of workers (51.3%) experiencing a mental health condition in the last 12 months, but less than half (49.2%) feeling their workplace is supportive of mental health and wellbeing, there is significant room for improvement in the industry.

Graph – Thriving Score for the Other Services Industry over time

What you can do

Workers in this industry reported low levels of work recognition and poor change management as key issues in their workplaces. These psychosocial risk factors are known to drive mental ill health, but can be mitigated by workplace cultures which promote strengths-based ways of working, mental health awareness, and open and transparent conversations between workers and management.

Elevate Your Leadership: Positive Strategies for Successful Teams
Learn more about this course

Access resources on how to promote connection in your workplace (even in a virtual environment!)
Visit SuperFriend’s Connection hub

Within this industry…

51.3%

of workers have experienced a mental health condition* in the last 12 months
*Refer to Technical report notes

49.2%

of workers feel their workplace is highly supportive of workers’ mental health and wellbeing

66.6%

of workers plan to stay with their workplace for the next 12 months

Psychosocial Risk Profile

Psychosocial risks are workplace operations that increase stress and reduce mental wellbeing.
Read more

Inappropriate workload

2.4

Low recognition

2.5

Poor change management

2.5

Poor management support

2.4

Low job control

2.3

Poor role clarity

2.3

Poor workplace relationships

2.2

Poor working environment

2.1

Traumatic events

2.1

Key:

Table – Psychosocial Risk Profile for Other Services industry

Highest Psychosocial Risk

The highest psychosocial risk facing the Other Services Industry is poor change management and low recognition.

How can you manage this risk?

Change impacts everyone differently. For change to be a success, people in the organisation must be continuously involved and informed. There should be no big surprises if leadership are communicating effectively and providing individual support throughout the change process.

As a leader, some options may be:

  • realistic exploration of the organisation’s history, readiness and ability to change
  • exploring who is best placed to help codesign and facilitate change
  • involve every layer of the organisation and seek to include all leaders with the company vision, equipped to manage change and motivated to support the change
  • create ownership and buy-in at all levels through identifying solutions to a shared vision
  • increase communication and clarity to ensure all workers feel supported
  • remember that although process is important, people matter, in person and one-to-one conversations are supportive and appreciated.

In support of oneself, it is important to consider:

  • managing what is in your control and actively seeking clarification from senior leaders or other experienced staff either in a one-on-one conversation or via written communication where you can properly digest and explore concepts
  • learning to leave stress at work and detach through learning about our own stress response or stress in general
  • engaging in practices such as mindfulness, yoga or another method that supports you
  • clearly defining how your values, strengths, and passions connect to what you do on a day-to-day basis and exploring job crafting to align to these.

Think about implementing new strategies where there is low recognition. Through valuing each team member and recognising good work, each individual will feel more connected to the team, improving connectedness and culture. Examples of this may be:

  • celebrate achievements e.g., weekly team meetings shout outs, lunch/coffee voucher as recognition of good work/customer satisfaction
  • incorporating regular, immediate and specific feedback via a positive email or in-person chat
  • aligning organisational values to team or individual recognition of achievements that reflect these values (monthly/quarterly)
  • compiling customer reviews and actively sharing as recognition
  • exploring employee ‘wellness days’ or sessions in support of individual wellbeing to also strengthen connectedness and culture. Included in this could be mindfulness sessions, massages, extended lunch breaks, fitness or yoga classes, paid coffee vouchers/outings.

Learn More

SuperFriend’s Be Your Best at Work: Positive Strategies for Success course provides individual team members with clear knowledge and practical ways to foster a positively engaged and thriving workplace.

Learn more about SuperFriend’s ‘Be Your Best at Work: Positive Strategies for Success’ course

Listen to Amy Wrzesniewski, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the Yale School of Management speak about ‘Job Crafting’ and creating meaning at work.

YouTube: Amy Wrzesniewski on Job Crafting

Explore a TED Talk by Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction.

TED: Make Stress your Friend

Check out WorkSafe Victoria’s page on how to promote workplace recognition and reward.

WorkSafe Victoria: Work-related stress – low recognition and reward

Read a Heads Up article about creating a positive workplace culture.

Heads Up: Positive Workplace Culture