The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work recently launched a major campaign to combat work-related stress, the second biggest occupational health problem in the European Union after back pain. The initiative, the focus of the Agency’s annual European Week for Safety and Health at Work, will be the first EU-wide campaign to tackle work-related stress, a problem that is estimated to affect over 40 million employees in the EU.
According to a number of major studies, work-related stress affects nearly one-in-three (28%) workers in the EU’s 15 member states, with women reporting the highest levels.
One of the most common causes of stress reported is lack of control at work. 35% of employees, for instance, say they have no say in the order of their tasks and 55% claim no influence over how long they work. Monotony, tight deadlines and bullying are some of the other factors that enter the equation.
The human costs are significant, according to the reports. It is estimated that 16% of male and 22% of female cardiovascular diseases in the EU are due to work-related stress. Other diseases and conditions associated with this issue include musculoskeletal disorders and mental health problems.
The economic costs are reported to be equally large. Between 50% and 60% of absenteeism, for instance, has been related to work-related stress. Together with allied health costs, the total annual bill to the EU is estimated to be around 20 billion euros.
The campaign, which is being backed by all Member States, the European Commission and Parliament, trade unions, and employers federations will run until October 2002 and end with the European Week for Safety and Health at Work.
To support this drive, the Agency’s campaign will raise awareness of the risks of work-related stress and suggest effective solutions through a range of media. This will include comprehensive information packs in all 11 EU languages, posters, leaflets, and a multilingual Web site. The Agency will also announce the winners of its European Good Practice awards for the organizations that have most successfully tackled work-related stress and some of its key triggers. Events will be organized in October across Europe for all organizations, large and small, public and private.
