The softest of launches

"The question is, what is the impact of not publicising this?" 

Hillary Bennett is referring to WorkSafe's quiet drop of new guidelines for managing psychosocial risk at work, which were added to the regulator's website recently without fanfare or announcement. 

The guidelines – years in the making – appear to have been finalised around the time of Minister Brooke van Velden's press releases outlining her thinking for health and safety reform, including that small businesses wouldn't have to focus on psychosocial risk. WorkSafe NZ has also said as part of its recent strategy review that mentally healthy work is no longer a priority.  

Bennett, a leading figure in mentally healthy work who was involved in reviewing the guidelines, told Safeguard she is concerned the lack of publicity sends its own message about how mental health in the workplace is prioritised by the regulator and the government. 

"Are they hiding that they don't have the money or team to support this? Or are they saying that it's not really important? Maybe they're hoping no one pays much attention to it."  

Whatever the reasoning, Bennett says it's an opportunity lost, missing the chance to use the guidelines to refocus New Zealand businesses on the importance of mental health.  

Philly Powell, founder and CEO at Wellbeing Tick, is also concerned about the way the guidelines were quietly made available without any notification, noting that psychological harm can lead to serious illness and death.  

However, Powell says she's glad New Zealand finally has guidelines, and believes the final product is "fantastic", well-aligned with ISO guidelines and on par with Australian codes of practice and regulations. However she says drawbacks are a lack of practical guidance on turning theory into practice and little emphasis on leadership, accountability and culture change. 

Nevertheless, she says the guidelines are an opportunity to elevate support around psychological risks to the same level as physical risks.  

Bennett acknowledges the guidelines have the fundamentals right, but is concerned they don't emphasise that PCBUs are just as responsible for ensuring work doesn't harm people mentally as physically. She's happy about the risk assessment approach taken but cautions the clinical nature of some of the language used will challenge small business owners.  

Powell says there has never been a need to wait for the regulator to give a signal to PCBUs that psychosocial risks are important.  

"We need to use this as an opportunity for health and safety, HR, wellbeing professionals and leaders to get the word out, promote it, talk about it and share success stories of how this education is actually helping organisations change their culture." 

This article was originally published in Safeguard Issue 202521, Tuesday 3 June 2025.