Physical well-being is not the only aspect of workplace safety an employer is obliged to take all reasonable steps towards a safe and healthy workplace.
Psychiatric illness is often overlooked by managers with comments such as “ harden up” and the like. Where hours of work are not considered to be reasonable as per the Fair Work Act, HR managers have an obligation to monitor and consider the effects on the employees concerned.
Management persons are often the victims of the team approach to corporate objectives and many work unreasonable hours as expected of a person in their position, including working at home after hours.
Where the aforementioned is the case management should examine each affected person and take steps to alleviate the situation whether or not there has been a complaint from an affected person.
Steps taken should be :
Modify the workload concerned.
Reduce or remove on call duties where applicable
Monitor the hours required and ensure such is within the terms and condition of the employment contract
Increase staffing
Direct employees to take leave and/or time off in lieu especially where long shifts are being worked.
Monitor the employee’s condition directly questioning them as to their welfare and recording responses.
These steps will demonstrate a Manager’s duty of care avoiding any contraventions of the Acts.