The Finance Sector Union (FSU) is celebrating the decision by Federal and State Health Ministers to regulate psychosocial hazards in the workplace.
FSU National Secretary Julia Angrisano said employers will no longer be able to ignore the impact of hazards to mental health in the workplace and will be obliged to take action to eliminate them.
This includes addressing the causes of sexual harassment which often manifests itself through psychological injuries. It’s a really significant improvement in making work safe for women.
“This decision by Federal and State Health Ministers means that we will have equal protections for physical and mental health and safety. Future generations of workers will have more rights because of this reform,” Ms Angrisano said.
“Years of campaigning from across our movement have gone into winning this regulation. I am very proud of the role that our union has played in lobbying for this change.”
Ms Angrisano said a recent ACTU study titled ‘Work Shouldn’t Hurt’ found that finance sector workers were more likely to take 12 months or more off work due to mental health issues, which is higher than in other industries.
She said the FSU will join others in the union movement to continue to agitate for industrial manslaughter legislation.
