When Work Becomes Harmful: When to Consider WorkCover?

It’s Sunday night. You’re lying in bed, already dreading the thought of work tomorrow. You notice it doesn’t feel like a bad week anymore. Work has started to follow you home and it’s affecting so many aspects of your life. Your sleep is more disrupted. You feel constantly exhausted and drained. You can’t ‘switch off’ like you used to. When these kinds of changes start to build and stick around, it raises an important question — is this still “normal” work stress, or could this be something more significant? And at what point do we even consider WorkCover?

Not all stress is harmful

Work-related stress is common. Most jobs involve periods of pressure – tighter deadlines, increased workloads, longer hours. The key difference is that these experiences are temporary and manageable. The stress isn’t spilling over into every aspect of your life, especially outside of work. You still feel able to cope — that the challenges are ‘okay’, even if uncomfortable. There’s a sense that things can improve, that you can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

This kind of stress often appears when the increased pressure from work is time-limited and controlled, and you genuinely feel you have access to support — that you can reach out to a colleague or manager, and they will listen and help. When these conditions are in place, work may feel difficult at times, but it’s unlikely to be harmful. Unfortunately, though, not all work environments are like this.

When work starts becoming harmful: Psychosocial Hazards

WorkCover becomes worth considering when work stops feeling manageable — and starts having a real, ongoing impact on your health and ability to function. This often looks like unreasonable pressure from work that doesn’t ease up, with no clear end in sight. Support may feel absent, and expectations can become unclear, inconsistent, or unrealistic.

Since July 2022, Victoria recognises that prolonged exposure to certain work-related stressors can cause psychological harm. These are referred to as psychosocial hazards — in simple terms, aspects of work that, when ongoing and unaddressed, can lead to psychological injury. There isn’t one single list, but Safe Work Australia has identified several common patterns that tend to show up when work starts becoming harmful.

In everyday terms, this can look like:

• Workload that never lets up — constant or unrelenting pressure, unrealistic deadlines, long hours, or exposure to traumatic material or situations at work

• Little to no control over how you do your job — being closely micromanaged, or limited say in decisions,

• Lack of support — not having a manager or team you can turn to for support or help, or feeling like you’re left to deal with things on your own

• Unclear or conflicting expectations — not knowing what’s expected of you, or being pulled in different directions

• Poorly handled change management — constant restructuring, lack of communication, or feeling uncertain about your job

• Unfair treatment — decisions that feel inconsistent, biased, or lacking transparency

• Exposure to distressing situations — dealing with trauma, conflict, or confronting material as part of the role

• Aggression or conflict at work — verbal abuse, threats, or unsafe interactions

• Bullying or being undermined — repeated behaviour that makes you feel targeted, excluded, or diminished

• Harassment (including sexual harassment) — unwanted or inappropriate behaviour that creates a hostile environment

On their own, occasional exposure to some of the hazards above might just feel frustrating, benign, or ‘just part of the job’, which is fair; exposure to psychosocial hazards doesn’t always lead to psychological injury. It is when these kinds of pressures are consistent that they start to build over time and affect one’s health.

The effects of exposure to psychosocial hazards are not anecdotal — they are grounded in years of research. We consistently see that when the demands of a job outweigh the support and resources available to manage them — especially over time — it can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing.

What can Psychological Injury look like?

Over time, you might notice feeling increasingly overwhelmed at work, that you have far too much on your plate and work isn’t listening when you ask for support. You might notice you find it harder to concentrate, make decisions, or keep on top of work that used to feel manageable. Emotionally, you might feel more anxious, more irritable, or just flat and drained. Symptoms of burnout, such as increased cynicism or jadedness towards work and emotional exhaustion are coming. Physically, sleep can become disrupted, your energy drops, and your body can feel constantly on edge.

You might also notice changes in how you act. You may start pulling away from people, avoiding certain tasks or interactions. For some people, there’s a growing sense of dread about going to work, or a feeling that the environment no longer feels ‘safe’.

In some cases, the impact can go further. You might feel constantly alert, find it hard to relax, or have your mind pulled back to stressful work situations even when you’re not there. Stressful events may show up in our dreams or intrude our thoughts throughout the day. Some people describe a lingering sense of threat or unease that doesn’t switch off outside of work.

Importantly, this isn’t just about work feeling temporarily difficult. It’s about when these changes start to affect your ability to function — both at work and in the rest of your life. It is very common for people to express they no longer feel able to cope with work and life, that they often feel like a shell of their former selves.

If this feels familiar, WorkCover may become a relevant consideration when the impact of work on your health is significant, ongoing, and clearly linked to your work environment.

When to consider WorkCover

WorkCover may become relevant when the impact of work on your health and wellbeing is significant, ongoing, and clearly linked to your work environment. This might include situations where workplace factors have led to a sustained decline in your ability to function across multiple areas of life inside and outside of work, particularly where attempts to address the issue within the workplace have not led to meaningful improvement. In these cases, it can be helpful to explore what support options are available, including whether a WorkCover claim is appropriate.

If you are unsure, speaking with a GP or psychologist can help clarify what you are experiencing and what steps may be most appropriate. You do not need to have all the answers before seeking support.

Seeking support

If any of the experiences described in this article resonate with you, it may be helpful to speak with a psychologist who understands the intersection between work and mental health.

As an Organisational Psychologist Registrar, I work with individuals experiencing work-related stress and psychological injury, including those navigating WorkCover. If you’re unsure where to start, or want to better understand what you’re experiencing, you’re welcome to get in touch.