Psychosocial Risk: A people problem or critical risk?

Psychosocial Risk: A People Problem or a Critical Business Risk?

Productivity stalls. Key people leave. Projects blow out. And still, psychosocial risk is too often treated as a “culture issue” or filed away under HR.

But what if we stopped thinking about psychosocial hazards as just a people problem — and recognised them for what they really are: critical business risks that affect performance, compliance, and wellbeing?

In this new fr&nk Insights paper, we unpack the evolving landscape of psychosocial risk, drawing on national research, real-world case studies, and the voices of over 300 workers across Australian industries.

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In this paper, you’ll explore:

• How the People at Work research identifies the six most predictive psychosocial hazards

• What the Cobar Enforceable Undertaking tells us about real-world risk, harm, and regulation

• Why hazard intersectionality matters — and why traditional WHS tools fall short

• What fr&nk’s own Worker Insights data reveals across sectors and job types

• How SMART work design and critical control assurance can transform systems, not just policies

With references to ISO 45003, WHS legislation, and over a decade of advisory experience, this is more than a research review. It’s a practical guide for leaders, safety professionals, and HR practitioners ready to move from awareness to action.

At fr&nk, we turn complexity into capability.
Let’s rethink psychosocial risk and design systems in which people don’t just survive work; they thrive in it.

Download the paper and see how critical risk thinking can change your workplace.