Access to our Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne offices is currently restricted. To visit us at these locations, call 1300 366 979 to arrange an appointment.

Low job control

For: Employers and managers Information seekers

Low job control is when workers have little control over how or when their job is done, or if their work is tightly managed.


What is low job control?

Low job control may include:

  • requiring permission or sign-off before progressing routine or low risk tasks
  • workers’ level of autonomy not matching their abilities
  • prescriptive processes and not allowing workers to apply their skills or judgement
  • lack of consultation about changes that impact work
  • limited scope for workers to adapt the way they work to changing situations or adopt work efficiencies
  • having little influence on how work is performed, such as when tasks are changed or breaks taken
  • workers not having control over their physical environment.

Low job control has been identified as a hazard in the Model Code of Practice: Managing psychosocial hazards at work.

This guidance will help you meet your obligation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011.

Training on psychological health and safety

Training on mentally healthy workplaces

We provide training through our learning management system called Comcare LMS.

To access our training, you first need to create an account in Comcare LMS (see the steps to create an account). Then, select the training item that you are interested in and login with your email and password.

For more information about the training we offer, see Training and learning.

Page last reviewed: 18 August 2022

Comcare
GPO Box 9905, Canberra, ACT 2601
1300 366 979 | www.comcare.gov.au

Date printed 17 May 2024

https://www.comcare.gov.au/safe-healthy-work/prevent-harm/psychosocial-hazards/low-job-control