Local governments have a duty of care to provide safe workplaces, with appropriate controls put in place for all hazards – this includes psychological hazards. The Work Health and Safety Act (WA) 2020 (WHS Act) states that a PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking) must prevent and manage psychological injuries in order to ensure a healthy and happy workplace, a local government is a PCBU.
The mediation process is a great resource to use as part of your plan to create a psychologically healthy workplace.
Impact of bad psychological health on a workplace
‘Health’, as defined by the WHS Act, is both physical
and psychological health. Psychological health in particular can be impacted severely if a worker is exposed to a poorly managed environment, workplace violence, traumatic event, bullying or harassment, fatigue and high work pressures.
This may impact an organisation in the form of unplanned absences like sick leave, withdrawal and presenteeism, staff turnover or frequent task errors.
Over 120 people attended the CEO Breakfast or Local Government Risk Forum on Tuesday 6 September 2022, at Crown Perth.
Representatives from across the state — from Port Hedland to Esperance and everywhere in between joined together to network and explore current risk issues for the sector.
WorkCover WA is the government agency responsible for regulating and administrating the workers’ compensation scheme in Western Australia under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981.
Businesses are prone to a host of disasters that vary from minor to catastrophic. The start of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 was sudden, unexpected and incredibly difficult for many.
Mediation typically translates to an intervention aimed at resolving a conflict situation between two parties. It isn’t necessary for the outcome to be any kind of friendship; it can be an effort to establish a professional environment where all parties are comfortable.
Another important point is that the mediation process is not about finding faults. Instead it is a voluntary, no blame, confidential system that can be highly effective for agreeing the way forward, especially as an early intervention.
When an issue or grievance is identified, and both parties are willing to work on improving the working relationship, an LGIS mediator can facilitate the process.
LGIS mediation involves a two-stage process. Stage one is the pre-mediation phase, where the key parties in the conflict adequately prepare themselves to individually come together in a safe and supported environment. In stage two, the joint mediation phase, the parties identify and respectfully discuss what they need from each other for a better working relationship.
An agreement is drawn up, which both parties sign, and the LGIS mediator then works with local leaders (e.g. a line manager or human resources professional) to establish effective monitoring and support.
Mediation is not always appropriate and sometimes it may not be sufficient to resolve entrenched workplace issues. In the event of complex matters involving high numbers of workers or long-standing issues, the LGIS people risk team will work with local governments to provide consulting advice and conduct a workplace needs analysis.
This involves gathering information from each member of the workgroup and its leaders about their perceptions of the strengths, concerns and opportunities for improvement around
the current people-related risks.
Findings will be produced and typically include an analysis
of the key themes and recommendations to establish effective ways of working together to Address any identified concerns.
More information
For more information on mediation or managing workplace conflicts, please contact the Emma Horsefield – People Risk Manager on 0407 957932 or e-mail [email protected]
Local governments are community makers, providing the places that create connection and a sense of belonging.
The City of Bunbury’s new youth precinct, Koolambidi Woola, has successfully married design and a strong risk management approach to deliver for the local community
The claimant, a cyclist, was riding his bike along a shared bike/footpath. He allegedly slipped on the path’s ‘slow down’ warning signage, injuring his ankle and knee. In his claim, the cyclist alleged that the signage was slippery and had a design flaw.
LGIS is the unifying name for the dedicated suite of risk financing and management services for WA local governments, established by the WA Local Government Association in conjunction with JLT Public Sector (part of the Marsh group of companies). LGIS is managed by JLT Public Sector (ABN 69 009 098 864 AFS Licence 226827).
Risk Matters, via this website, is designed to keep members, their staff and elected members informed on topical risk management and insurance issues and LGIS programs and services.
