October/November 2010
The majority of Working Well Matters readers want any future public workshops to be held in Auckland. And that's not all... read more results from the survey about our public workshops, in this second issue of Working Well Matters. If you responded to the survey, many thanks for your valuable input!
We also bring you an article about how staff at Ballance Agri-Nutrients benefited from learning more about mental health and strategies to manage wellbeing, as well as mental health in the workplace news, research and resources.
We welcome your contributions and feedback, so please keep in touch. If you think others would benefit from receiving this bi-monthly newsletter, please forward this email to them so they can subscribe, too.
Mauri ora,
Shaughan Woodcock,
Acting Working Well Manager
Contents
In the News
Kiwis learning to work smarter not harder
Ihaka, J. (2010, 2 October). Auckland: NZ Herald.
News article
People are finding ways to spend les time at the office. The Department of Labour’s Household Labour Force Survey showed they were working fewer hours than 10 years ago.
How the law is applied to issues relating to mental health
Edwards J, (2010, 6 October): National Radio
News article
Interview for Mental Health Awareness Week on National Radio’s Nine to Noon programme with lawyer John Edwards on how the law is applied to issues to do with mental health.
Stressed drivers urged to take the bus to better health
(2010 22 September). United Kingdom: Press Association
News article
Dr David Lewis, the psychologist credited with coining the phrase “road rage” warned stresses such as congestion and delays can raise blood pressure and lead to more serious issues further down the line.
Research / Resources
It’s only normal
(2010, August) Employment Today Magazine
Full article
The cost to business of mental health problems among staff can be significant. Vero has taken the proactive approach with its Mental Health @ Work initiative. Glenys Barker explains why normalising the discussion of mental wellbeing is important.
Getting a job: an A – Z for employers and employees pre-employment guidelines
Report
These are questions no one should have to answer in a job interview because they risk breaching the Human Rights Act. So to help both employers and job seekers to know their rights and responsibilities in the hiring process, the Human Rights Commission has launched Getting a job, an A to Z of pre-employment guidelines.
Interacting with the public as a risk factor for employee psychological distress
Hilton MF, & Whiteford HA. (2010, 25 July). BMC Public Health, 10, 435. Provisional PDF.
Full Article
The results of the current study are indicative that interaction with the public increases levels of psychological distress. Employees dealing with the public may be an employee subgroup that could be targeted by employers with mental health interventions.
What’s next? National conversation about work
(2010, August). Wellington: Human Rights Commission.
Summary Report
Regional Reports
The Human Rights Commission's National Conversation about Work has spoken to 3000 employers and employees around New Zealand over the past two years. Find out what people think about work and different factors affecting regions across the country.
How can flourishing, positive mental health and wellbeing be increased?
Norriss H, (2010) Auckland: Mindnet
Abstract
Positive mental health is a state that can increase general health and wellbeing, and resilience and is closely aligned to concepts such as wellbeing, happiness, flourishing and positive psychology.
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