The SDA strongly welcomes the NSW Government’s new amendments to Workplace Health & Safety laws, which make it clear that all work systems—including digital platforms, AI, automation, and algorithm-driven scheduling—must be implemented in ways that assist workers, not harm them.
“These reforms are a vital step forward in ensuring that technology in the workplace is used to enhance, not undermine, the safety and wellbeing of all employees,”
said Bernie Smith, SDA NSW Secretary.
“The SDA commends the NSW Government for recognising that digital work systems are not exempt from safety laws.
“These amendments send a clear message: technology must serve people, not the other way around. We urge all employers to work with unions and workers to ensure that digital innovation in the workplace is safe, sustainable, and genuinely beneficial for all.
The SDA’s recent report, Under Pressure: The Hidden Cost of Retail, found that retail workers are facing unprecedented levels of psychosocial risk, with excessive workloads, chronic understaffing, and the rapid introduction of new technologies without proper consultation driving stress, fatigue, and burnout to crisis levels.
Technology—when poorly designed or implemented—can intensify workloads and reduce job control, rather than making work safer or more sustainable. This is why the SDA strongly supports the new legal requirement that all work systems, including digital ones, must meet safety standards and be designed to support, not harm, workers.
“Workers need AI WHS protections. Real-world examples from high-tech workplaces like Amazon, where digital management systems and algorithm-driven work allocation have contributed to intense workloads, a culture of fear that seeks to silence workers’ voices,” said Mr Smith.
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627066
Worker Voices: The Reality of High-Tech Workplaces
“The system tracks every movement I make. If I slow down, even for a moment, I get a warning. It feels like I’m being watched all the time, and the pressure to keep up is relentless. I worry about making mistakes or getting injured because I’m rushing to meet targets set by the software.” – Distribution centre worker
“We have new technology that allocates tasks automatically. Sometimes it doesn’t take into account if someone is already overloaded or if a job is physically demanding. There’s no way to flag if you need a break or if you’re struggling. It’s like the system doesn’t see us as people.” – Online order picker
“The algorithm decides how many staff we need and when. But it doesn’t always match what’s happening on the shop floor. If someone calls in sick, the system doesn’t adjust, and the rest of us are left to pick up the slack. It’s exhausting and stressful.” – Retail team member
“I was injured after running up and down stairs dozens of times a shift to fix machine jams. The system kept sending alerts, and there was no way to slow down or ask for help. When I finally hurt my knee, it took months to get any support, and I was moved around different departments instead of being given proper adjustments.” – Warehouse worker
Background:
The SDA has long advocated for technology to be used as a tool to augment workers’ capacity—not to intensify workloads or reduce job security.
Our 5-Point Plan for psychosocial safety calls for:
- Safe staffing levels: Ensuring enough staff are rostered to meet demand, with technology supporting, not replacing, human judgement.
- Sustainable workloads: Digital systems must be designed to create realistic, manageable workloads and allow for necessary breaks.
- Consultation and collaboration: Workers and their representatives must be involved in the design and implementation of new technologies to ensure risks are identified and addressed before harm occurs.
- Support for frontline workers: Managers must have the authority and training to adjust digital systems in response to real-world conditions and worker feedback.
- Collaborative work design: Technology should be introduced in ways that enhance job satisfaction, safety, and wellbeing, not undermine them.