Performance and conduct issues for employees raising mental illness

Mental Health and Performance Management

1. Around 45% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, and 1 in 5 Australian adults will experience a mental illness in any given year.¹ Therefore, it is very likely that from time to time an employer will need to performance manage an employee who is experiencing a mental illness.

What is mental illness?

1. Mental illness is a health issue that affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves and interacts with others.² It is important to note that the definition of "disability" in state and federal anti-discrimination legislation includes both permanent and temporary mental illness.³
2. There are many factors that increase the likelihood of mental illness in a workplace, including poor management, unreasonable performance demands, poor communication, unclear roles or responsibilities and bullying.⁴