New research involving 994 Australian employees across 19 industries has revealed some concerning findings about psychosocial hazards in our workplaces.
The 2026 Australian Psychosocial Safety Benchmark Report, prepared by HumanListening and Healthy Minds, provides a national snapshot of employees' experiences of workplace pressures, support, bullying, harassment and other psychosocial risks.
And the results should make employers take notice.
Download the Full Benchmark Report (PDF)
What did the research find?
37% of employees are unhappy in at least three areas of work associated with psychosocial risks.
21% are in the highest-risk group, experiencing high job demands combined with low support and resources.
63% have seen or experienced at least one form of inappropriate behaviour or exposure to traumatic events at work in the past 12 months.
31% are unhappy with how organisational change is managed, making it the most widespread area of unhappiness measured.
21% wouldn't feel comfortable seeking workplace support even if they needed it, while another 26% don't know where to go for help.
One of the most revealing findings
When employees were invited to talk openly about their workplace experiences, only 1% spontaneously mentioned bullying and nobody raised harassment.
Yet when asked directly, 23% reported personally experiencing bullying and 24% reported harassment.
The message for employers is clear: just because people aren't raising concerns doesn't mean the problems aren't there.
An open-door policy, an employee assistance program or an absence of formal complaints isn't enough to establish that psychosocial risks are being effectively managed.
What does this mean for employers?
The research reinforces that managing psychosocial risks isn't simply about helping employees become more resilient.
It's about how work is designed, organised and managed.
Workloads, staffing, employee control, organisational change, recognition and support all play a significant role.
The encouraging finding is that many of these risks are within an organisation's ability to address.
With psychosocial hazards now a core workplace health and safety responsibility, organisations need to understand where their risks exist, take practical steps to control them and demonstrate that those controls are working.
Download the full report
The 26-page report provides detailed findings across industries, identifies the most significant psychosocial risk factors and outlines practical actions employers can take to create safer workplaces.
Download the 2026 Australian Psychosocial Safety Benchmark Report (PDF)
For more information about identifying and managing psychosocial risks in your organisation, explore our Managing Psychosocial Hazards program or contact us at hello@healthymindsprogram.com.
