Stress, burnout and confidence debt are now core business risks
Why this matters
Stress, burnout and confidence debt are now core business risks—eroding productivity, retention, culture and profit. The good news: targeted investment returns more than it costs.
The cost picture (Australia)
- Psychological injury claims are small in count but huge in impact: median 34.2 working weeks lost and $58,615 median compensation per serious claim (vs. 8.0 weeks and $15,743 for all injuries). (Safe Work Australia Data)
- Mental-health conditions now make up ~9% of serious workers’ comp claims, up ~37% since 2017–18—a steep, sustained rise. (Safe Work Australia)
- Untreated mental ill-health costs Australian workplaces ~AU$10.9bn p.a. (absenteeism, presenteeism and claims). Average ROI = 2.3:1—every $1 invested in a mentally healthy workplace returns $2.30. (PwC)
Productivity, absence & presenteeism
- Globally, depression and anxiety drive ~12 billion lost workdays annually—~US$1 trillion in lost productivity. (World Health Organization)
- Burnout hits output and attendance: burned-out employees are 2.6× more likely to be job-hunting and 63% more likely to take a sick day. (Forbes)
Retention & culture risk
- Culture beats compensation: during the Great Resignation, a toxic culture was ~10× more predictive of attrition than pay in large U.S. firms. The same risk signals—disrespect, poor inclusion, unethical conduct—map to psychosocial hazards now regulated in AU. (MIT Sloan Management Review)
What changes when you address this
- Capacity improves (fewer crashes, better sleep, steadier focus) → higher quality work and fewer errors.
- Confidence & contribution rise (psychological safety, voice, decision clarity) → better collaboration and speed.
- Consistency returns (reliable follow-through, reduced procrastination) → predictable delivery and revenue.
What we do (Nicole’s Stress Recovery Method)
- A5 Activation Method™ (five levels: physical, mental, emotional, energy, spiritual) distilled into Restore → Rewire → Release:
- Restore: stabilise physiology (nutrition, sleep, hormones) to cut the drivers of absence and presenteeism.
- Rewire: regulate the nervous system and shift patterns (confidence, overwhelm, inner critic) to reduce burnout risk and turnover intent.
- Release: reduce inflammatory load and stagnation to sustain energy, mood and engagement across the week.
Bottom line: stress and burnout are measurable, material business risks—with a proven business case for action. Addressing them pays back in lower absence/presenteeism, stronger retention, and better performance. (PwC)
Customised Corporate workshops and 1:on:1 Consulting & Coaching Packages available.
Some topics include.
Stress Recovery & Resilience.
Is it stress or burnout?
The impact of hormones on resilience, performance & stress.
Authentic Leadership
Confidence
Vision, Visibility and Voice
Burnout, Boundaries & Balance
Energy, Confidence & Resilience
Purposeful Living & Working
Some previous corporate clients include Siemens Healthcare, Cummins, Arbonne, Peak Corporate Health (now part of Bupa)
