Mental health-related complaints to WorkSafe have risen at an alarming rate, especially in the healthcare sector, which has left a lawyer concerned.
In figures released exclusively to AM under the Official Information Act, there have been 182 separate mental health incidents reported to the safety regulator so far this financial year.
To put that number in context, there were just 18 complaints two years ago. That number rose to 97 for the 2021 financial year with 14 upheld and then 182 this financial year with 10 upheld.
In late 2020, WorkSafe established a Mentally Healthy Work team to provide people who complain with expertise and guidance.
In early 2021, a team of specialist health inspectors (Kaimahi Hauora) was established to lead work and support other operational staff in assessing and regulating psychosocial risks at work.
Workplace lawyer Garth Gallaway told AM on Wednesday the increase in the number of complaints received by WorkSafe was expected due to the increased profile being given to the importance of workplace health.
"I think the figures are quite naturally rising. I don't think it necessarily means that we have greater problems," he told AM co-host Melissa Chan-Green.
"It means, however, people are aware that bullying is something that is being looked at by WorkSafe and they can make a complaint in relation to it."
Gallaway said currently no prosecutions have taken place for bullying or harassment in New Zealand.
"At the moment there are some improvement notices and so on that have been issued and the interesting thing about that is that the Kaimahi Hoauroa unit can issue improvement notices and take enforcement action in relation to other matters apart from bullying as well," he said.
"So the issue is even those figures might be distorted by virtue of the fact that the notices that have been issued do not actually relating relate to bullying and harassment. So there's a lot of unknowns."
The figures showed the healthcare sector was at the top in 2021 and 2022 for the most complaints. For the 2021 financial year, education and training came in second, and accommodation and food were third. It was similar for this financial year with manufacturing in second and education third.
Gallaway told AM it's concerning to see healthcare at the top of the stats for the last two years.
"I think anyone seeing that health care leads the way in both years would be concerned about that," he told AM
"I wonder if that is reflected in our public system or some of our private rest home areas and so on. But it is a little bit surprising because they lead those figures by quite a margin."
Watch the full interview with Garth Gallaway above.
