
Peer support
Want to connect with other business owners?
The International Day of Friendship is this Saturday. It’s a day to reflect on the importance of peer support and social connections in your personal life and your small business.
Connecting with others is vital to our mental health and wellbeing. It can even act as a protective factor against stress and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. You should therefore take the time to have meaningful conversations, share experiences and simply have fun with others.
As a small business owner, it can be difficult to make time to connect with others. Social outings are often cancelled when we become stressed and overwhelmed. Long hours and weekend work also make it difficult to find time that aligns with others’ schedules. Isolation and lack of peer support can be an issue for many sole traders who have no employees or frequently work alone. For these reasons, small business owners must make a conscious effort to engage in social activities.
This International Day of Friendship think about what you could be doing more of to connect with others. Here are some ideas to help get you started:
Ahead for Business has many resources to help you improve your social connections. Start by taking a look at:
Want to connect with other business owners?
Feel more socially connected: easy steps to initiate positive social connections.
Healthy relationships support good mental health as well as your business. Try these tips.
Find out how to build connections into your everyday work routine.
From December 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission will have new powers to investigate and enforce ‘the positive duty’. This means that they can investigate small business owners that are not taking proactive steps to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
NewAccess for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health program, developed by Beyond Blue to give small business owners the support they need.
From 1 August 2023 small businesses will be required to provide full-time, part-time and casual employees with 10 days of paid domestic violence leave per year.
Five practical tips to support you and your small business to make EOFY less stressful.