[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.23″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”table-contents” _builder_version=”4.23″ background_color=”#f3f2f6″ custom_padding=”25px||25px||true|false” sticky_position=”top” sticky_limit_bottom=”section” sticky_position_tablet=”top” sticky_position_phone=”none” sticky_position_last_edited=”on|desktop” pac_dcm_carousel_specific_module_num=”0″ border_radii=”on|24px|24px|24px|24px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23″ text_font=”||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}” background__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” pac_dcm_carousel_specific_module_num=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ header_2_font_size=”32px” header_2_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_2_font_size_phone=”26px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Across businesses, there is an expectation that you conform in the workplace. This makes sense: work is work, everyone has a job to do. But what about topics or behaviours that are left unsaid or avoided?<\/p>\n
The workplace taboo can take many forms, and most of the time we know what they are and don\u2019t engage or participate in them. For example, committing crimes like assault or robbery will find you without a job and in jail. These are taboo because we know that they are, and we feel that they are wrong.<\/p>\n
These are real work taboos that we know to avoid. But what about topics that feel taboo, but shouldn\u2019t be? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
In August of 2024, the Right to Disconnect law<\/a> passed, legislating against employers unreasonably contacting their employees outside of working hours. This has opened much debate in Australia about what the right disconnect means and, more broadly, work-life balance. In a vacuum, the right to disconnect makes sense: if you aren\u2019t working, why take your boss\u2019s call or text?<\/p>\n Where the right to disconnect gets tricky is when we apply it to the real world where not everything is black and white. What happens if your contract contains reasonable overtime, or is vague about outside of work contact? This is where a workplace conflict can occur, and naturally, people tend to avoid conflict as much as possible, which leads to not talking about your workplace rights.<\/p>\n Ultimately, avoiding conflict leads to an environment where working can be intolerable and stressful. Research compiled by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) has found that 30-50% of a typical manager\u2019s time is spent managing workplace conflict<\/a>. In their findings, AIM has observed that due to conflict in the workplace:<\/p>\n It is important, then, that we do talk about expectations and the realities of work. There is nothing wrong with employees laying out their boundaries and how it relates to employment. Being on the same page is the point of the right to disconnect and should not be taboo.<\/p>\n When at work or in public, you will probably need to go to the bathroom. We are human, there is no shame in it; going to the bathroom is natural. Input and output, what goes in must come out. Yet in the workplace, this isn\u2019t as straightforward as one might think.<\/p>\n In September 2024, the Queensland health department launched a social media campaign, \u201cIt\u2019s ok to poo at work\u201d, highlighting the anxiety associated with going to the toilet in public or at work<\/a>.<\/p>\n It may be silly, but \u2018shy bowl\u2019, or parcopresis, is a real phenomenon where someone cannot go to the bathroom due to the fear of scrutiny by others. The stress that this social phobia causes results in people not going to the bathroom when they are at work or in a public place. This could lead to some serious health issues and shouldn\u2019t be dismissed.<\/p>\n When it comes to professional image, people may remove parts of their personality that appear a certain way to their colleagues. But this can be detrimental to your well-being. Don\u2019t be ashamed of something that everyone does. When nature calls, answer.<\/p>\n The \u2018salary taboo\u2019, as it is sometimes called, is when people feel their wage or salary shouldn\u2019t be discussed because it could cause resentment in the workplace. This taboo still persists in Australia, as up until 7 December 2022, it was legal for employers to prohibit their employees from discussing their pay in their employment contracts.<\/p>\n Now that the Pay Secrecy Law<\/a> is in effect in Australia, employees have the right to share (or withhold) information about their salary and wages. There are caveats to this, as any employment agreement that contains pay secrecy signed before 7 December 2022 is still enforceable if amendments to a contract have not been made after the introduction of the legislation.<\/p>\n You should also remember that while pay secrecy is no longer off limits, your colleagues have the right not to share information about their salary or wage. We can sometimes put too much emotion in how much we earn, but it\u2019s not about the haves and the have nots, it’s about transparency and knowing what you’re worth. Having an open system that acknowledges what everyone brings to the table cuts through the noise and allows people to focus on work and the rewards that come with it.<\/p>\n Nationally, from individuals to businesses, there has been a huge drive to address the mental health crisis in Australia. We have dedicated days like R U OK Day<\/a> to bring attention to these issues and encourage people to seek help. The mental health crisis in Australia<\/a> is widespread, as 1 in 5 Aussies have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months.<\/p>\n In the scope of the economy, mental ill-health causes $39 billion in lost participation and productivity<\/a> every year. The Australian Institute of Wellbeing and Health (AIHW) has recorded that 59% of those aged under 65 have difficulties continuing employment due to mental health issues<\/a>. The human element of all this is shared as in all likelihood, someone you know \u2013 whether they are a colleague, friend or loved one \u2013 suffers from mental illness and often struggles alone.<\/p>\n There is a long way to go when it comes to tackling mental health in Australia. However, part of being an Aussie is to help each other out: mateship and getting a fair go. These concepts are baked into the Aussie psyche, and are virtues that we hold dear. Why don\u2019t we use a bit of our identity, add it into the mix, and talk to each other? Everything starts with a conversation, and embracing compassion and empathy with a simple, \u201cAre you okay?\u201d is an easy way to foster an inclusive and healthy workplace.<\/p>\n As Australians, we love a straight shooter and getting to the point \u2013 up until we get into uncomfortable conversations. So let\u2019s get to the point, no beating around the bush, and demystify hard conversations<\/a> in the workplace, and leave real workplace taboos where they belong.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_social_share icon_bg=”#03002e” icon_padding=”10px|12px|10px|12px|true|true” layout=”classic” show_text=”off” btn_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” btn_bg_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||||false|false” custom_css_before=” content: %22SHARE THIS%22;|| font-size: 16px;|| font-weight: 700;|| line-height: 22px;|| letter-spacing: 0em;|| text-align: center;|| color: #ff5447;|| margin-bottom: 10px;|| display: inline-flex;|| position: absolute;|| margin-top: 10px;” border_width_top_main=”1px” border_color_top_main=”#e4e4e4″ border_radii_icon=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_before_last_edited=”off|desktop”][ba_social_share_child _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”facebook” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”linkedin” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][ba_social_share_child network_type=”email” _builder_version=”4.23″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_social_share_child][\/ba_social_share][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At work, navigating what should and shouldn’t be discussed can be hard. Read on to find out more about workplace taboos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":294917,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Across businesses, there is an expectation that you conform in the workplace. This makes sense: work is work, everyone has a job to do. But what about topics or behaviours that are left unsaid or avoided?<\/p> The workplace taboo can take many forms, and most of the time we know what they are and don\u2019t engage or participate in them. For example, committing crimes like assault or robbery will find you without a job and in jail. These are taboo because we know that they are, and we feel that they are wrong.<\/p> These are real work taboos that we know to avoid. But what about topics that feel taboo, but shouldn\u2019t be? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p> In August of 2024, the Right to Disconnect law<\/a> passed, legislating against employers unreasonably contacting their employees outside of working hours. This has opened much debate in Australia about what the right disconnect means and, more broadly, work-life balance. In a vacuum, the right to disconnect makes sense: if you aren\u2019t working, why take your boss\u2019s call or text?<\/p> Where the right to disconnect gets tricky is when we apply it to the real world where not everything is black and white. What happens if your contract contains reasonable overtime, or is vague about outside of work contact? This is where a workplace conflict can occur, and naturally, people tend to avoid conflict as much as possible, which leads to not talking about your workplace rights.<\/p> Ultimately, avoiding conflict leads to an environment where working can be intolerable and stressful. Research compiled by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) has found that 30-50% of a typical manager\u2019s time is spent managing workplace conflict<\/a>. In their findings, AIM has observed that due to conflict in the workplace:<\/p> It is important, then, that we do talk about expectations and the realities of work. There is nothing wrong with employees laying out their boundaries and how it relates to employment. Being on the same page is the point of the right to disconnect and should not be taboo.<\/p> When at work or in public, you will probably need to go to the bathroom. We are human, there is no shame in it; going to the bathroom is natural. Input and output, what goes in must come out. Yet in the workplace, this isn\u2019t as straightforward as one might think.<\/p> In September 2024, the Queensland health department launched a social media campaign, \u201cIt\u2019s ok to poo at work\u201d, highlighting the anxiety associated with going to the toilet in public or at work<\/a>.<\/p> It may be silly, but \u2018shy bowl\u2019, or parcopresis, is a real phenomenon where someone cannot go to the bathroom due to the fear of scrutiny by others. The stress that this social phobia causes results in people not going to the bathroom when they are at work or in a public place. This could lead to some serious health issues and shouldn\u2019t be dismissed.<\/p> When it comes to professional image, people may remove parts of their personality that appear a certain way to their colleagues. But this can be detrimental to your well-being. Don\u2019t be ashamed of something that everyone does. When nature calls, answer.<\/p> The \u2018salary taboo\u2019, as it is sometimes called, is when people feel their wage or salary shouldn\u2019t be discussed because it could cause resentment in the workplace. This taboo still persists in Australia, as up until 7 December 2022, it was legal for employers to prohibit their employees from discussing their pay in their employment contracts.<\/p> Now that the Pay Secrecy Law<\/a> is in effect in Australia, employees have the right to share (or withhold) information about their salary and wages. There are caveats to this, as any employment agreement that contains pay secrecy signed before 7 December 2022 is still enforceable if amendments to a contract have not been made after the introduction of the legislation.<\/p> You should also remember that while pay secrecy is no longer off limits, your colleagues have the right not to share information about their salary or wage. We can sometimes put too much emotion in how much we earn, but it\u2019s not about the haves and the have nots, it's about transparency and knowing what you're worth. Having an open system that acknowledges what everyone brings to the table cuts through the noise and allows people to focus on work and the rewards that come with it.<\/p> Nationally, from individuals to businesses, there has been a huge drive to address the mental health crisis in Australia. We have dedicated days like R U OK Day<\/a> to bring attention to these issues and encourage people to seek help. The mental health crisis in Australia<\/a> is widespread, as 1 in 5 Aussies have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months.<\/p> In the scope of the economy, mental ill-health causes $39 billion in lost participation and productivity<\/a> every year. The Australian Institute of Wellbeing and Health (AIHW) has recorded that 59% of those aged under 65 have difficulties continuing employment due to mental health issues<\/a>. The human element of all this is shared as in all likelihood, someone you know \u2013 whether they are a colleague, friend or loved one \u2013 suffers from mental illness and often struggles alone.<\/p> There is a long way to go when it comes to tackling mental health in Australia. However, part of being an Aussie is to help each other out: mateship and getting a fair go. These concepts are baked into the Aussie psyche, and are virtues that we hold dear. Why don\u2019t we use a bit of our identity, add it into the mix, and talk to each other? Everything starts with a conversation, and embracing compassion and empathy with a simple, \u201cAre you okay?\u201d is an easy way to foster an inclusive and healthy workplace.<\/p>\n
Bathroom anxiety and what your colleagues really think<\/h2>\n
Can you really talk about your pay?<\/h2>\n
Talking mental health<\/h2>\n
No beating around the bush<\/h2>\n
The right to disconnect<\/h2>
Bathroom anxiety and what your colleagues really think<\/h2>
Can you really talk about your pay?<\/h2>
Talking mental health<\/h2>
No beating around the bush<\/h2>