Managing employee stress has always been a cornerstone of HR’s wellbeing efforts—but the stakes just got even higher. New research from the International Labour Organization found that 840,000 individuals die each year because of the “psychosocial” risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease and mental disorders.
The psychosocial work environment includes job design, work management, and the policies and practices that govern work, according to the ILO.
“Work-related psychosocial risks,” researchers write, “represent a major and growing threat to workers’ safety and health, organizational productivity and broader economic performance.”
The risk is particularly high in the shifting work landscape, as the influence of AI, the emergence of remote and hybrid work, and broader geopolitical uncertainty continue to increase pressure on workers.
“While these developments may create opportunities to strengthen the psychosocial working environment,” the report says, “they may also exacerbate psychosocial risks, underscoring the need for proactive management.”
ILO recommends three focus areas to reduce the risk for psychosocial-related illnesses and death:
Research: While there is formal movement across several countries to address work-related mental health and psychosocial risks, efforts are needed to advance “routine, harmonized and internationally comparable data,” researchers say. Data should be disaggregated by worker characteristics and types of work.
Policy and regulatory frameworks: Apart from regulations addressing visible issues like violence and harassment, risk should also be examined in the structural and organizational work structures. “Effective implementation requires a combination of enforcement, practical guidance, tools and capacity building, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as clearer communication and stronger institutional coordination,” researchers say.
Workplace-level action: When work design, organization and management are strengthened, it reduces psychosocial risks, the report states. Employers should pay attention to workload, supervision and how tasks are allocated, while investing in training for employees and managers to spot red flags. “Leadership responsibility,” they say, “is central to embedding prevention in everyday management decisions and across organizational functions.”
Credit: Source link
