Burnout is a state of severe physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by long-term, unmanaged stress, and according to Beyond Blue it’s impacting around half of Aussies. Burnout can happen in any industry but we know healthcare workers are particularly at risk.

Burnout is not an individual issue – if you’re feeling burned out your colleagues probably feel the same way.

Workers in union can tackle burnout at the source by addressing understaffing, workplace stress, access to leave and workplace culture.

In May health and allied services, managers and administrative workers in public hospitals – members of the Health Workers Union – achieved significant workload-management improvements through their new collective agreement. 

For the first time, these workers will have enforceable workload management provisions in their agreement and workers can now formally demand a workload review where workloads are unsafe or unreasonable. Management must respond and explain a plan to address the issue within 21 days. If the issue is not resolved locally there is a dispute process, giving workers new powers to push back on unsafe workloads. 

Employers must also now provide written reasons if refusing leave. Missed meal breaks must be paid at 150%. Steps have also been taken to establishing minimum theatre staffing and minimum security officer staffing in Emergency Departments. 

In a sector where workers suffer alarming rates of burnout, these provisions will substantially improve the day-to-day working conditions of staff and ultimately benefit patients too.

The new agreement also secures pay increases around 5% per year, and was achieved by a united membership taking collective action throughout 15 months of protracted negotiations. 

Collective problems need collective solutions. Congratulations HWU members on your agreement!