According to a survey from HK-Municipal, the municipal section of the Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (HK-Kommunal, Handels- og Kontorfunktionæernes Forbund, HK), more than one in two clerical employees has problems with stress, and one in 10 feels "burned out". Interestingly the survey, published in summer 1998, reveals that although HK members feel stressed and burned out, nearly two-thirds (65%) feel that their workplace is attractive and half are satisfied with their employer's personnel policy. Although HK-Municipal recognises that stress is difficult to measure, it nevertheless believes it important to focus on how to improve the psychological and physical working environment.
A trade union survey, published in summer 1998, indicates that stress is a widespread phenomenon among clerical employees in Denmark's municipal sector.
According to a survey from HK-Municipal, the municipal section of the Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (HK-Kommunal, Handels- og Kontorfunktionæernes Forbund, HK), more than one in two clerical employees has problems with stress, and one in 10 feels "burned out". Interestingly the survey, published in summer 1998, reveals that although HK members feel stressed and burned out, nearly two-thirds (65%) feel that their workplace is attractive and half are satisfied with their employer's personnel policy. Although HK-Municipal recognises that stress is difficult to measure, it nevertheless believes it important to focus on how to improve the psychological and physical working environment.
A survey conducted in 1996 by the National Association of Local Authorities in Denmark (Kommunernes Landsforening, KL) showed that the improvement of the psychological and physical working environment has been given increasingly attention by the municipalities. In the period 1994-6, 76% of its 273 affiliated municipalities undertook activities with the view to improve the psychological working environment. A smaller survey covering 50 municipalities (conducted in April 1998) showed that projects are being developed, meetings on the subject are taking place and guidelines for the improvement of the psychological working environment are being elaborated on.
With regard to cooperation and dialogue in the municipal sector, a revised framework agreement on participation in regional and local authorities was signed on 15 November 1996, covering 625,000 employees in the 275 Danish municipalities and 14 counties (DK9706113F). The agreement makes it mandatory for local agreements to be drawn up in order to bring about more cooperation between workers and employers, improved conditions of employment and an enhancement of the role of shop stewards.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (1998), Clerical employees are stressed and burned out, article.
