European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation)

European Working Conditons Observatory (EWCO)

*COMPARATIVE STUDY*

*WORK-RELATED STRESS* [19 November 2010]

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn1004059s/index.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ewco/studies/tn1004059s/tn1004059s.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/docs/ewco/tn1004059s/tn1004059s.pdf

[full-text, 51 pages]

*Executive Summary*

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/htmlfiles/ef10751.htm

or

http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2010/751/en/1/EF10751EN.pdf

This report examines the issue of work-related stress in the 27 EU Member States and Norway. Studies capturing data on work-related stress in individual countries differ in terms of their scope, methodology and coverage. The main risk factors for work-related stress include heavy workload, long working hours, lack of control and autonomy at work, poor relationships with colleagues, poor support at work and the impact of organisational change. These factors can be difficult to address, especially if they have resource implications. The main outcomes (individual, organisational and societal) of work-related stress include physical and mental health problems, absence from work, reduced quality of outputs, increased welfare and medical spending, and reduced productivity. Company-level examples of best practice in stress management highlight the need for good quality data on work-related stress, a robust stress policy, the involvement of all relevant actors, good communications, and the importance of buy-in from senior management.

The study was compiled on the basis of individual national reports submitted by the EWCO correspondents. The text of each of these national reports is available below. The reports have not been edited or approved by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The national reports were drawn up in response to a questionnaire and should be read in conjunction with it.

*CONTENTS*

Introduction

Monitoring work-related stress at national level: high heterogeneity between Member States

Risk factors for work-related stress

Outcomes of work-related stress

Work-related stress management interventions

HSE Management Standards

Public debate on managing stress caused by restructuring

Commentary

Bibliography

Annex: Main national surveys/studies on work-related stress

**************************************** Stuart Basefsky Director, IWS News Bureau Institute for Workplace Studies Cornell/ILR School 16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10016

Telephone: (607) 255-2703 Fax: (607) 255-9641 E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu ****************************************