Workers’ compensation provides an important safety net to workers who become injured or ill because of work. It provides financial support and other assistance so workers can focus on getting better and back to work safely.
Stigma that causes negative stereotypes or discrimination against injured or ill workers seeking compensation can affect all aspects of the workers’ compensation process. It can prevent the disclosure of injuries or illness, reduce engagement with the claims process, and reduce the effectiveness of recovery and return to work processes. It can also prevent injured or ill workers from making a workers’ compensation claim or impact their recovery.
Safe Work Australia (SWA) has launched a new campaign to reduce workers’ compensation stigma and help to create positive and supportive workplaces. SWA provides a range of practical resources to combat workers’ compensation stigma, including fact sheets, case studies and posters. These resources support employers, supervisors and workers to identify and reduce workers’ compensation stigma in their workplace.
Under WHS laws, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs), such as employers, must eliminate or minimise risks to health and safety, including psychosocial risk such as bullying or harassment arising from stigma, so far as is reasonably practicable. Workers also have a duty to minimise WHS risks.
From August to November, SWA will share a series of posts on LinkedIn and Facebook. These will highlight practical actions that employers, supervisors and workers can take to reduce workers’ compensation stigma, while raising awareness of their National Return to Work Strategy 2020–2030.
You can learn more about the causes, extent and impacts of stigma on injured and ill workers in the Griffith University’s report Research on the causes and impact of stigma in workplaces.
Read more: Workers’ compensation stigma | Safe Work Australia