By Catherine Ngo Senior Editor and Content Writer, My Business

Gallup's most recent State of the Global Workplace report revealed that a substantial proportion of Australian employees experienced significant stress levels the previous day in 2023. This finding emerged amidst ongoing efforts in Australia to combat bullying and harassment in the workplace. Not only did 48% of Australian workers report experiencing high levels of stress, 20% also indicated sadness, and 15% reported feeling angry the day before the survey was conducted.

Claire de Carteret, managing director of APAC at Gallup, has observed that Australian workplaces grapple with a trifecta of crises: retention, productivity, and mental health. A study conducted by the Australian Workers Union (AWU) revealed a startling statistic: in 2023, half of the employees surveyed had experienced bullying, harassment, or discrimination. This alarming finding has led to a significant surge in psychosocial injury claims.

THE COST OF LOW WORKER ENGAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA: A BILLION-DOLLAR ISSUE

The report highlights the concerning state of employee engagement in Australia, where just one-fifth (21%) of workers are engaged and 12% are actively disengaged. This low engagement rate could cost Australian companies over $220 billion AUD annually, representing 9% of the nation's GDP.

The findings align with the global trend, as employee engagement has remained stagnant at 23% in 2023 after several years of steady improvement. Most employees worldwide continue to face challenges at work and in their personal lives, directly impacting organisational productivity.

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR NEW ROLES

The study also revealed that a considerable portion of Australian workers consider the present time opportune for job seeking, with 74% holding this view. This is further reflected by the fact that nearly half of the workforce (44%) is actively searching for or looking for new job opportunities. This could pose a significant challenge for employers, as a recent analysis by Jobs and Skills Australia indicates that a substantial number of occupations (332 out of 916, representing 36%) are experiencing shortages at the national level.

Organisational leaders must act swiftly to address this crisis by implementing measures promoting employee engagement, well-being, and a positive workplace culture.

WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD?

Overall, the global survey revealed that 34% of respondents reported experiencing "thriving" at work, contrasting with 58% who admitted to "struggling" and 8% who felt they were "suffering."

Research centred around life evaluation, considering both current and future perspectives, indicates that individuals who thrive tend to experience fewer health issues and negative emotions such as worry, stress, sadness, loneliness, depression, and anger. In contrast, they report heightened positive feelings like hope, happiness, energy, interest, and respect.

According to Gallup's study, the ten countries with the highest proportion of people who said they were "thriving".

 

1. Finland: 83%

2. Denmark: 77%

3. Iceland: 76%

4. Netherlands: 71%

5. Sweden: 70%

6. Israel: 69%

7. Norway: 67%

8. Costa Rica: 62%

9. Belgium: 60%

10. Australia: 60%

The report highlighted a significant trend in European countries, with seven nations securing positions among the top 10. Notably, the European region exhibited the lowest proportions of employees actively seeking new employment opportunities and experiencing daily sadness. 

However, it also had the lowest regional percentage (13%) of engaged employees, standing in contrast to the United States, which has weaker labour protections but higher employee engagement.

Costa Rica and Israel emerged as outliers with high levels of employee well-being. In Costa Rica, 62% of respondents reported thriving in their work environment, while 34% felt a strong sense of engagement. Israel stood out in the Middle East and North Africa region, with a significantly lower percentage (39%) of employees experiencing daily stress than the broader region's 52%.

In Asia, most respondents did not report thriving, but here are the top 10 countries in the region with the highest percentage of respondents who said they were thriving:

 

1. Vietnam: 51%

2. Taiwan: 41%

3. Singapore: 39%

4. Thailand: 37%

5. Philippines: 36%

6. China: 36%

7. South Korea: 34%

8. Malaysia: 31%

9. Japan: 29%

10. Mongolia: 29%

 

The report indicates a correlation between an employee's sense of purpose derived from their work and positive emotions. Half of engaged employees experience overall well-being.

Moreover, managerial engagement influences employee engagement. In effectively managed workplaces, most managers and a significant portion of non-management employees show high levels of engagement.

While employees bear some responsibility for creating a positive work environment, organisations also play a vital role. Companies that prioritise labour protections employ capable and engaged managers and provide adequate training to foster an environment conducive to employees' professional and personal growth.