Insurance News is donating to mental health organisation R U OK? as part of this year’s industry wellness survey.

Today is R U OK? Day, and Insurance News MD Andrew Silcox has pledged that every response to the Insurance Wellbeing Survey, which can be accessed here, will be matched with a $1 donation.

The survey aims to better understand your wellbeing and that of your industry peers. It seeks feedback on workloads, mood and feelings, bullying, customer behaviour, discrimination, pay, work-life balance, hours and productivity, flexibility, childcare and remote working. It asks how you feel you’re coping, and what could be done to better support you.

Results from the anonymous survey will be shared, identifying issues employers need to address.

R U OK? Day has been marked with various industry initiatives. 

IAG hosted a session today on speaking to people who are not behaving as they normally would.

“Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it,” IAG consumer lifestyle and growth products national manager Andrew Scarlis said. “It’s a very important day to advocate, but we should be wearing the R U OK? hat each and every day.”

The QBE Foundation has partnered with R U Okay? since 2018, and local CEO Sue Houghton says safer, more supportive workplaces can be created.

“Let’s keep the conversation going and make a positive difference,” she said. 

Suncorp EGM workers’ compensation Allicia Tsolis says prioritising mental wellbeing is essential in creating a resilient workplace, especially for teams managing emotionally charged cases. 

“Workers’ compensation can be complex and our customers are often facing adversity,” she said. “Supporting a team member can be something as simple as recognising when they’ve had a difficult call – pull them off the phone and say, ‘That sounded like a tough one. Are you OK? Do you want to grab a quiet space and chat about it?’

“We encourage everyone to ask, ‘Are you ok?’ Not just today but any day. Your question could make all the difference.”