The findings from The Wellbeing Lab also found that more than a third of the Australian workforce has been working from home since March.
The data revealed that only 37.6 per cent of workers felt their manager expresses care in some form, while only 32.1 per cent feel comfortable sharing struggles in their workplace.
To make matters worse, only 7.4 per cent of employees reported feeling like they are thriving.
The research comes as federal and state governments allocate funding towards a range of mental health initiatives aimed at small businesses, including a dedicated digital hub and a support training program for chambers of commerce across Victoria.
It also comes amid concerns that the reduction in financial support from the government and lenders will see a significant rise in life insurance claims for work-related mental health conditions.
Responding to the research, the national manager of solutions and consulting services at recruitment agency Drake International, Andrea Marlan, advised business managers that “these obstacles aren’t going away any time soon and the reality is we’re living in a new normal”.
“We need to embed wellbeing solutions into organisational DNA,” she said.
“Australian businesses are scrambling to adjust to the sudden shift in workplace culture and operations.
“By providing insights and primary data, we can pinpoint where key issues lie, giving businesses relevant and useful steps to improve wellbeing and productivity among their employees.”
The research is based on a survey of more than 1,400 Australian workers during August.
