How PeopleCompass Addresses Psychosocial Hazards and Enhances Workplace Safety

In today’s evolving workplace landscape, the focus on mental health and wellbeing has shifted from reactive support to proactive prevention.

At the forefront of this shift is PeopleCompass, our flagship tool jointly delivered by Rehab Management and OneRedDoor, is designed to help businesses identify and manage psychosocial hazards before they escalate into serious issues.

To provide a deeper understanding of the PeopleCompass tool and its critical role in managing psychosocial hazards, we spoke with Michelle Barratt our Head of Innovation who played a key role in developing PeopleCompass.

Understanding Psychosocial Hazards

Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work design, management, and organisational culture that have the potential to cause psychological or physical harm. These hazards include factors such as excessive workloads, poor communication, low job control, lack of support, and workplace bullying. Businesses are required to treat psychosocial safety with the same seriousness as physical safety.

What is the PeopleCompass tool and its primary purpose?

PeopleCompass is a simple workplace psychosocial hazard identification and management tool designed to help businesses proactively uncover and address hidden stressors within their work environments—such as workload pressures, ineffective communication, or insufficient support.

“While regulatory pressures in this area are mounting, for many businesses, it’s not just about compliance,” Michelle explains. “It’s about creating a culture where psychosocial safety is valued equally alongside physical safety and embracing the benefits of fostering a mentally healthy workplace.”

How does PeopleCompass differ from other psychosocial tools available today?

“PeopleCompass serves as a simple first step for organisations taking the next step in understanding their psychosocial hazards and risks,” Michelle states.

“The tool utilises an anonymous employee survey to provide a clear snapshot of key psychosocial hazards and strengths within an organisation. This insight allows businesses to focus their efforts strategically where they matter most.”

“PeopleCompass also offers a range of tailored services such as job re-design consultation, eLearning modules, and leadership workshops – aligned to the specific needs of the business to ensure meaningful risk reduction.”

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the development of this tool?

Michelle candidly shares, “Introducing any new tool to work teams can be challenging, so we prioritised minimising the impact on employees.”

“We were aware that poor change management itself can be a psychosocial hazard. Ironically, no organisation wants to create new psychosocial risks by introducing a psychosocial assessment tool with extra steps or blockers!”

“PeopleCompass was carefully designed to survey teams without requiring app downloads or new complicated platforms, balancing enough questions to be meaningful and effective, without overwhelming employees with surveys or additional tasks.”

How does PeopleCompass assess and measure psychosocial factors?

“Developed by experts in workplace health, safety, and risk management, PeopleCompass assesses and reports on an organisation’s risk levels across common psychosocial hazards as outlined by the Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice” Michelle explains.

“It also incorporates critical areas such as organisational and leadership trust.”

The tool follows an ‘Identify, Act, Strengthen, and Embed’ framework, providing an end-to-end approach that supports workplaces at any stage of their psychosocial journey.

Support ranges from comprehensive engagement and strategy design to targeted eLearning packages, offering tailored services that meet business needs as a ‘right service, right time’ partner.

How does PeopleCompass fit into the broader space of workplace mental health support?

“While many workplace mental health initiatives focus on individual support like Employee Assistance Programs or health coaching, PeopleCompass emphasises organisational psychosocial health,” Michelle highlights. “It targets systems and workplace design rather than solely individual solutions.”

“Good work supports good mental health. PeopleCompass helps businesses fulfil their duty to provide a safe work environment, supporting both individual wellbeing, whilst adding strategic value to the organisation.”

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working on PeopleCompass for you personally?

Reflecting on her journey, Michelle shares, “Starting my career as a Psychologist Rehabilitation Consultant, I supported individuals recovering from mental injury at work.”

“I witnessed many workplaces where well-meaning leaders failed to provide psychosocially safe environments. I saw teams burdened by excessive, severe, and often unaddressed job demands, alongside cultures of bullying and harassment.”

“Most of these issues were ‘out of sight and out of mind’ for businesses. Seeing PeopleCompass now uncover these hidden concerns and enable meaningful action fills me with pride. Knowing the tool contributes to keeping workers safe and improving workplace wellbeing is deeply rewarding.”

Find out more about PeopleCompass, our tech-driven psychosocial hazard tool jointly delivered by Rehab Management and OneRedDoor here.