We shouldn’t underestimate how this kind of workplace change can take its toll. Even pre-pandemic, changes in the workplace were one of the top four causes of anxiety at work, along with workload, long hours and relationships at work, according to the 2019 Southern Cross Workplace Wellness report. Other research has found high psychological demands at work can increase our risk for depression and anxiety disorders. AUT organisational behaviour expert Dr Helena Cooper-Thomas says the rate at which people are having to manage change at work is increasing, and it’s affecting our mental wellbeing. First, she says, “there s the continuous range of changes we re all facing at work, from updates to software, which are relatively minor but just add a little bit of hassle to our day, through to major restructures, acquisitions, and new customers.”