RESOURCES
Psychosocial safety
Safe Work Australia Guide to Psychosocial Health & Safety & Bullying in Australian Workplaces
A comprehensive guide that outlines employers’ legal responsibilities for managing psychosocial hazards, including workplace bullying, and provides practical steps for creating safe and supportive work environments.
A collection of guidelines, fact sheets, and tools aimed at improving workplace safety and addressing mental health and psychosocial risks in Australian workplaces.
Resources specific to workplace safety and bullying laws within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), offering guidance on legal obligations and support services.
World Health Organisation materials
Resources from WHO focus on global strategies for improving mental health, preventing workplace stress, and promoting well-being as part of its broader health initiatives.
International Labor Organisation materials
Documents and resources that address international labor standards and policies, including guidelines on workplace bullying, harassment, and promoting psychosocial safety.
Work-related mental disorders profile 2015 – Safe Work Australia
A report detailing statistics, trends, and contributing factors to work-related mental health issues in Australia, with a focus on preventive strategies.
A study that presents data on the prevalence, impacts, and risk factors of workplace bullying and harassment, emphasizing the need for effective interventions.
Mentally Healthy Workplace Alliance
An organization that collaborates with businesses, governments, and mental health groups to provide strategies and tools for creating mentally healthy workplaces in Australia.
An Australian mental health organization providing resources, support, and education for individuals and workplaces to address depression, anxiety, and related conditions.
A national organization offering mental health support and early intervention services for young people, including resources for managing workplace stress and mental health.
A summary of how trauma affects the brain
Neurological and psychological effects of trauma, explaining changes in brain structure and function, such as the overactivation of the amygdala and reduced connectivity in the prefrontal cortex.
A creative’s guide to dysfunctional cultures
Insights into recognizing and navigating toxic workplace cultures, especially in creative industries, and strategies for maintaining personal and professional well-being.
Happy Life Transitions
Happiness Goes Global
Why Happiness is a Global Movement
Explores how happiness is becoming a worldwide priority, emphasizing its role in individual well-being, social progress, and sustainable development.
Psychology Today – Happiness Is a Movement
Psychological and societal shift toward prioritising happiness, highlighting its benefits for mental health, relationships, and workplace productivity.
Global study ranking countries based on happiness indicators such as economic stability, social support, and life expectancy, offering insights into the happiest nations.
Happiness Initiative Singapore
A program focused on promoting happiness and well-being in Singapore through workshops, events, and community initiatives grounded in positive psychology.
A nonprofit organization advocating for measuring and improving happiness and well-being as key metrics for societal progress, inspired by Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness model.
Promotes tracking and improving personal and collective happiness through data-driven approaches and practical well-being strategies.
A global initiative aimed at increasing happiness and well-being worldwide through research, education, and collaborative programs.
An annual event that brings together thought leaders, researchers, and individuals to explore the science of happiness and its applications in personal and professional life.
A global movement dedicated to spreading kindness, mindfulness, and positive actions, offering resources and courses to help people live happier lives.
A lifestyle brand and media platform that shares stories, science, and resources to inspire and promote happiness in daily life and work.
A nonprofit organisation providing tools and resources to teach emotional resilience and happiness, particularly for youth, through educational programs and social impact initiatives.
Books & Other Recommended Reading (Nonfiction)
Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord
A seminal critique of modern consumer culture, this book explores how media and capitalism create a “spectacle” that alienates individuals from authentic social relationships and experiences.
Working by Studs Terkel
A groundbreaking oral history that captures the voices of ordinary Americans, detailing their thoughts, frustrations, and aspirations about their jobs and the meaning of work.
The Entrepreneurial Self by Ulrich Bröckling
Examines how contemporary society encourages individuals to adopt entrepreneurial mindsets, reshaping identity, values, and relationships under neoliberal economic principles
The Mythology of Work: How Capitalism Persists Despite Itself by Peter Fleming
Critiques the glorification of work under capitalism, arguing that it perpetuates inequality and exploitation, while questioning why people continue to buy into its myths.
Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber
Analyzes the phenomenon of meaningless, unfulfilling jobs that serve no real purpose, exploring their social and psychological costs while questioning the structure of modern labor.
The Office: A Hardworking History by Gideon Haigh
Traces the evolution of the office as a workplace, exploring its cultural, architectural, and technological history while reflecting on its impact on modern work culture.
Reclaiming the System: Moral Responsibility, Divided Labour, and the Role of Organizations in Society by Lisa Herzog
Investigates the moral responsibilities of organizations and their workers, proposing ways to make systems more ethical and accountable in an increasingly complex labor division.
Firms as Political Entities: Saving Democracy through Economic Bicameralism by Isabelle Ferreras
Proposes reimagining firms as democratic institutions with shared governance between workers and investors, offering a radical vision for workplace democracy.
Private Government: How Employers Rule our Lives (and Why We Don’t Talk about it) by Elizabeth Anderson
Explores the “private governments” of employers who exercise unchecked power over workers, calling for a rethinking of workplace authority and employee rights.
Virtue Hoarders: The Case against the Professional Managerial Class by Catherine Liu
Critiques the professional managerial class (PMC) for perpetuating inequality and neoliberal values under the guise of progressivism, calling for systemic change
Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen.
Offers practical advice on how to process and grow from feedback, even when it’s poorly delivered, focusing on communication and self-awareness.
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
A guide to navigating high-stakes conversations with confidence and empathy, providing tools to address tough topics without damaging relationships.
Podcasts & Other Recommended Listening
Books & Other Recommended Reading (Fiction)
The Pale King, ‘a vocational memoir’ by David Foster Wallace
An unfinished novel that delves into the mundane yet profound world of IRS employees, exploring themes of boredom, duty, and the search for meaning in modern work life. It reflects Wallace’s signature blend of humor, empathy, and philosophical inquiry.
A powerful exposé of the harsh conditions faced by immigrant workers in Chicago’s meatpacking industry during the early 20th century. This groundbreaking novel is both a critique of capitalism and a call for social reform, credited with inspiring changes to U.S. food safety laws.
In addition I recommend the extensive listing of resources, including fictional literature, at the end of The Office by Gideon Haigh
On the meaning of work
Jess Price Reading Recommendations
- Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
- Deep Work by Cal Newport
- Work Backwards by Tim Duggan
- The Creative Act of Being by Rick Rubin
- Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
- Time Wise by Amantha Imber
- The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest
- 101 Essays that will Change the Way you Think by Brianna Wiest
- The Power of Onlyness by Nilofer Merchant
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek
- Think Again by Adam Grant
- Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
- Thinking in Pictures by Michael Blastland