Psychological injury claims continue to represent some of the most complex, costly and challenging workplace risks facing Australian employers. While significant investment has been made into mental health awareness and psychosocial risk management, many organisations continue to struggle with the workplace behaviours and interpersonal conflict that often sit beneath these claims.
This session will present new findings from the 2026 EML Mental Health White Paper, developed in partnership with Monash University, exploring contemporary workplace mental health trends, emerging psychosocial risks and the changing expectations of Australian workers. These findings will be complemented by research from Griffith University examining the prevalence and impact of workplace microaggressions, providing fresh insights into how seemingly low-level behaviours can accumulate into significant psychological harm and workplace dysfunction.

Building on the research evidence, EML’s Pathways Team will demonstrate a practical conflict mediation intervention framework designed to identify and address workplace relationship breakdown before issues escalate into prolonged absence, formal grievances or workers’ compensation claims.