Stress is growing among employees: ‘Integrated approach needed’

NOS News•today, 10:17

Dutch people drop out more often due to stress at work and the workload will only increase in the coming years. This is evident from figures and government advice published today.

Last year, the number of people reporting long-term illness due to stress complaints increased by 11 percent. Figures from occupational health and safety service providers ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare show that almost a quarter of the cases involved overstress or burnout.

With these complaints, an employee is on average (partially) out of work for 240 days. That costs a company 315 euros per day.

Sectors such as education, health care and public administration are particularly affected. Stress problems are more common in companies with more than 250 employees than in smaller companies. The problem is least prevalent in construction.

The figures come on the day that RIVM and TNO advise the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to develop additional policy to prevent stress at work. At the request of the ministry, researchers looked at the expected changes for the next 20 years and predict that stress will only increase.

The pressure on employees is increasing because fewer people are working. This is due to shortages in the labor market, the aging population and an increasing number of informal caregivers. Work stress, absenteeism and disability can therefore increase.

What can relieve the pressure are opportunities to work from home more often. The report also recommends sufficient development opportunities at work and enough time to recover after a working day.

The researchers warn that all developments cannot be tackled separately. “They can strengthen, accelerate or weaken each other. Policy and measures to reduce the causes of work stress cannot therefore focus on one of the developments.”

In the short term, director of medical affairs at ArboNed Redmer van Wijngaarden warns employers to be aware of complaints. “This way you can start the conversation about this earlier and prevent complaints from piling up.”