Career as a work-stress-free journey
Working life can be seen as a journey, from the start of a career to a well-deserved retirement. A lot can happen during that journey. If working conditions, such as psychological pressure and interactions with others, are not good, work stress can arise. This is also known as psychosocial workload (PSW).
PSW can lead to health problems and absenteeism and ultimately to long-term sick leave and possibly even incapacity for work. The efforts of all those involved must therefore be focused on good working conditions and the prevention of PSW.
Employers must establish policies to combat PSW. This is required under the Working Conditions Act. In addition to prevention, they are responsible for sickness absence support and rehabilitation within the framework of the Eligibility for Permanent Incapacity Benefit (Restrictions) Act (Wet verbetering poortwachter). Many organisations and professionals are involved in this.
The Netherlands Labour Authority has identified who plays a role in preventing complaints and absenteeism due to PSW, and in preventing people from being unnecessarily confined to their homes (for long periods of time) with psychological complaints.
The Labour Authority wants to engage in dialogue with stakeholders about the interpretation of everyone's roles and tasks in this process. The aim is to identify opportunities and risks and to encourage stakeholders to actively take on their roles and tasks in the process and to coordinate them.
More information about the most important PSW factors:
Work stress and psychosocial stress
Self-inspection: work pressure and undesirable behaviour (Dutch)