The recent Small Business Mental Health: Through the Pandemic report released by Treasury highlighted that the professional and life pressures of running a small business are mounting and the cracks are showing.
COSBOA said it also revealed that small-business owners are desperate for support especially around the implementation of new IR laws and compliance issues.
“It is critical we talk not of small businesses, but of small business people — owners and operators, who are contending with technological, regulatory and societal change,” COSBOA said in a statement.
“Implementing a constant flow of new measures and new compliance requirements, one of the most complex IR systems in the world, and red tape that is restrictive, prohibitive and overwhelming.”
The Treasury report found that more than one in five small-business owners said they had been diagnosed with a mental ill health condition by a doctor or health professional in recent months.
“The number of people undiagnosed is unimaginable, with barriers such as cost, lack of time and services, not understanding the needs of small businesses, listed as the main reasons for not getting support when needed,” the statement said.
The organisation is asking that this year when governments make changes to the legislation, they need to more acutely consider how these changes will be implemented and by whom and when.
“Humanising the face of small businesses is vital to prevent further ill health,” COSBOA continued.
“We seek for all sections of Government to understand the real impacts of recent and proposed changes. Changes being implemented such as Single Touch Payroll, Stapled Superfund checking, Employer agreements as part of IR reform, paid family and domestic violent leave, considerations of portable LSL schemes, rethinking around casuals and contractors, changing compliance processes and increased interaction from government debt collectors. There is more.
“Enhanced consideration, care and direct consultation needs to occur, so the real impacts are understood — for human lives, family cohesion, and the mental-wellbeing of thousands of people are at the receiving end of government changes. These changes need to fairly enhance productivity and make it easier to do business, not simply tackle perceived problems.
“As government move towards further industrial relations reform in particular, we need to ensure changes enable people to be more productive — not deterred from employing others and growth.
“We need to ensure the changes are practical, the cost is not worn by the small business owner and that these measures work to inspire, encourage, and support small business growth and prosperity. Anything else works against the proposition of starting a small business, an entrepreneurial spirit, core to the Australian economy.”
