Aussies would rather quit work than deal with tension

Aussie workers don't deal well with an icy office. Photo / Thinkstock

Almost half of Australian workers would rather quit a job than deal with office tension, a survey shows.

The poll, commissioned by suicide prevention group RU OK?, found bosses often lacked the skills to discuss difficult issues.

This was also adversely affecting the mental health of employees, to the point where 46 per cent of people surveyed would rather seek a new job than deal with a workplace issue.

A similar proportion would take a day off when work became unpleasant.

The Centre for Corporate Health, which carried out the survey, said unresolved workplace tension could trigger mental illness.

"We know that once a workplace conflict occurs and if it is not dealt with quickly and appropriately, there is a much higher chance of employees developing psychological problems at work," the centre's director of psychological services Rachel Clements said.

Two-thirds of the 1554 people surveyed said they were unhappy with their managers while 82 per cent said they felt uncomfortable approaching human resources about a workplace problem.

RU OK? Foundation chief executive Janina Nearn said workplace conflict would escalate unless "seemingly small" issues were addressed.

- AAP