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Psychosocial risks

Psychosocial risks are aspects of the design and management of work, and its social and organisational contexts, that have the potential for causing psychological or physical harm. Work-related stress is one of the health risks most frequently identified by workers in Europe. The factors that can cause stress for workers and influence their health and well-being can be related to the following: job content; work intensity and job autonomy; working time arrangements and work–life balance; social environment, including interpersonal relationships at work and social support; job insecurity and career development. 

Topic

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From January to June 2024, Eurofound supports the work of Belgium's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

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From July to December 2023, Eurofound supported the work of Spain's presidency of the Council of the EU, providing valuable research results on specific topics linked with the presidency priorities.

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Definitions

European Industrial Relations Dictionary 

Eurofound expert(s)

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Sara Riso

Sara Riso is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She is involved in research projects in the areas of employment change and restructuring. She joined...

Research manager,
Working life research unit
Oscar Vargas Llave

Oscar Vargas Llave

Oscar Vargas Llave is a research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and manages projects on changes in the world of work and the impact on working conditions and related...

Research manager,
Working life research unit
Publications results (22)

Psühhosotsiaalsed riskid töötajate heaolule: COVID-19 pandeemiast saadud õppetunnid

Using data from the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021 and building on a theoretical model that differentiates between job stressors and job resources, this report examines key psychosocial risks in the workplace and their impact on health.

23 November 2023
Publication
Research report
Psychosocial risks
Töötingimused ja kestlik töö
Health and well-being at work
Kaugtöö
COVID-19
Tööaeg
Discrimination at work
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Elamine, töötamine ja COVID-19 pandeemia Euroopa Liidus ja 10 ELi naaberriigis

Eurofoundi poolt 2020. aasta alguses algatatud uuringu „Elamine, töötamine ja COVID-19“ eesmärk on kajastada pandeemia ulatuslikku mõju ELi kodanike tööle ja elule. Eurofoundi uuringu viies voor, mis viidi läbi kevadel 2022, käsitleb ka uut ebakindlat tegelikkust, mille on põhjustanud sõda Ukrainas

07 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Skills and training
Social policies
Social inclusion
Psychosocial risks
Noored
Working conditions
Kaugtöö
Subjective well-being
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
COVID-19
Elamistingimused ja elukvaliteet
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Elu-, töö- ja COVID-19 e-uuringu viies voor: elamine uues ebakindlas ajastus

Eurofoundi veebiuuringu viies voor, mis oli avatud 25. märtsist kuni 2. maini 2022, heidab valgust kogu Euroopa inimeste sotsiaalsele ja majanduslikule olukorrale kaks aastat pärast seda, kui COVID-19 esmakordselt Euroopas avastati. Samuti uurib see elu tegelikkust uuel ebakindluse ajastul, mille on

07 July 2022
Publication
Research report
Stand with Ukraine
Psychosocial risks
Noored
Kaugtöö
Subjective well-being
Trust
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
Unemployment
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Elamistingimused ja elukvaliteet
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People with disabilities and the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey

A new European Disability Strategy was launched in 2021 with the aim of intensifying progress on ensuring the full participation of people with disabilities in society. The increase of EU policy focus on people with disabilities is timely: the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the challenges they faced in

21 March 2022
Publication
Policy brief
Public services
Psychosocial risks
Subjective well-being
Trust
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Living conditions and quality of life
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COVID-19 mõju ELi noortele

COVID-19 pandeemia leviku aeglustamiseks kehtestatud piirangud on avaldanud eriti ränka mõju ELi noortele, kes on vaevu jõudnud taastuda 2007–2013. aasta majanduskriisist. Noored kogesid vanematest rühmadest suurema tõenäosusega töökohakaotust, rahalist ebakindlust ja vaimse tervise probleeme. Nad

09 November 2021
Publication
Research report
Social inclusion
Quality of society
Psychosocial risks
Noored
Subjective well-being
Trust
NEET-noored
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Elamistingimused ja elukvaliteet
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Elamine, töötamine ja COVID-19 (uuendus aprillis 2021): vaimne tervis ja usalduse vähenemine kogu Euroopa Liidus pandeemia teise aasta alguses

Eurofoundi e-küsitluse kolmas voor, mis toimus 2021. aasta veebruaris ja märtsis, heidab valgust peaaegu terve aasta COVID-19 piirangutega elanud Euroopa rahvastiku sotsiaalsele ja majanduslikule olukorrale. Aruanne analüüsib peamisi leide ning jälgib käimasolevaid arenguid ja suundumusi 27 Euroopa

10 May 2021
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Noored
Kaugtöö
Trust
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Inequality
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Töötingimused ja kestlik töö: analüüs töökvaliteedi raamistiku põhjal

See juhtaruanne võtab kokku programmiperioodil 2017–2020 tehtud Eurofoundi töötingimuste uuringute peamised järeldused. Selles kaardistatakse alates 2000. aastast tehtud edusammud töötingimuste parandamisel ja vaadeldakse, kas kõik töötajad on positiivsetest muutustest võrdselt kasu saanud. Aruandes

26 February 2021
Publication
Flagship report
Psychosocial risks
Tööaeg
Töötingimused ja kestlik töö
Working conditions
Sustainable work
Undeclared work
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
Work organisation
Employment relationship
Health and well-being at work
Sooline võrdõiguslikkus
COVID-19
Töökohtade kvaliteet
Vananev tööjõud
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Elamise, töötamise ja COVID-19

This report presents the findings of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey, carried out by Eurofound to capture the far-reaching implications of the pandemic for the way people live and work across Europe. The survey was fielded online, among respondents who were reached via Eurofound’s

28 September 2020
Publication
Research report
Töötasu ja sissetulek
Psychosocial risks
Noored
Tööaeg
Töötingimused ja kestlik töö
Working conditions
Kaugtöö
Subjective well-being
Trust
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
Unemployment
COVID-19
Living conditions
Elamistingimused ja elukvaliteet
Töökohtade kvaliteet

Elamine, töötamine ja COVID-19: esimesed järeldused – aprill 2020

Vaid mõne nädala jooksul on uue koroonaviiruse põhjustatud COVID-19 pandeemia põhjalikult muutnud inimeste elu kogu maailmas. Lisaks sellele, et COVID-19 on tekitanud viirusest otseselt mõjutatud inimestele raskeid tervisekahjustusi, on COVID-19 pandeemial olulised tagajärjed inimeste elu- ja

06 May 2020
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Trust
Elamistingimused ja elukvaliteet
Töötasu ja sissetulek
Psychosocial risks
Tööaeg
Subjective well-being
Unemployment
Working conditions
Töö- ja eraelu tasakaal
Living conditions
Kaugtöö
Töötingimused ja kestlik töö

Burnout in the workplace: A review of data and policy responses in the EU

This report looks at the extent of burnout experienced by workers in the EU, based on national research. As a starting point, the report sets out to consider whether burnout is viewed as a medical or occupational disease. It then examines the work determinants associated with burnout and looks at

10 September 2018
Publication
Research report
Disability and chronic disease
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working time
Online resources results (233)

Unions conduct a survey of working conditions

In November 2010, the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS [1]) published the results of a study on Working conditions, satisfaction and performance at work (in Romanian, 3.1Mb MS PowerPoint) [2] conducted by a team of Romanian and foreign experts coordinated by Professor Liviu Voinea. The study was

1 märts 2011
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of recession on Millennials’ career expectations

The entry into the workforce of large numbers of the Millennial generation (those born between 1980 and 2000) over the last decade or so has given them the power to reshape the rules of play at work. As a result, practitioners have become increasingly interested in this new generation. A study

18 oktoober 2010
Article
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Skills and training
Work organisation
Work-life balance
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Link between psychosocial factors, perceived stress and musculoskeletal injuries

A new study in Sweden has examined the current knowledge base on psychosocial factors and the links to musculosketal disorders (MSDs) by examining 81 different studies on the subject. The link between an unfavourable psychosocial environment and the prevalence of MSDs is well established, with a

9 september 2010
Article
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work

Social climate at work important to workers

The ageing workforce means it is becoming more important in the Netherlands, as it is everywhere, to be an active member of the workforce and to stay in a job until or even beyond retirement age. The social climate in the workplace therefore is an important factor in applying for a job and the

2 september 2010
Article
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work

Negative impact of musculoskeletal disorders on Irish labour market

According to a recent research report (673Kb PDF) [1], musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) such as back pain, arm or neck strains, or diseases of the joints are the number one cause of work absence in Ireland by some margin, costing the economy an estimated €750 million each year. Although the number of

23 august 2010
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks

Working conditions in healthcare professions

The demographic development of European society means healthcare is a rapidly expanding sector and field of employment, with a growing demand for qualified workers. Attractive working conditions in the sector are crucial to meeting this huge future challenge.

9 august 2010
Article
Psychosocial risks
Work organisation
Health and well-being at work
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Working conditions in healthcare professions

The demographic development of European society means healthcare is a rapidly expanding sector and field of employment, with a growing demand for qualified workers. Attractive working conditions in the sector are crucial to meeting this huge future challenge.

9 august 2010
Article
Psychosocial risks
Work organisation
Health and well-being at work
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Heavy work and the possibility of early retirement

An ageing population means that participation in the labour force is declining all over Europe, including in the Netherlands. To maintain labour participation at a high enough level in the future, the Dutch government proposes increasing the retirement age from 65 to 67 years. However, it may exempt

22 juuli 2010
Article
Ageing workforce
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks

Portable computing and communication devices and their impact on workers’ health

A new European Commission report, The increasing use of portable computing and communication devices and its impact on the health of EU workers (4.42MB, PDF) [1], provides an overview of the technology currently available and its uses, and looks at the main stressors and ergonomic risks to EU

22 juuli 2010
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks

Portable computing and communication devices and their impact on workers’ health

A new European Commission report, The increasing use of portable computing and communication devices and its impact on the health of EU workers (4.42MB, PDF) [1], provides an overview of the technology currently available and its uses, and looks at the main stressors and ergonomic risks to EU

22 juuli 2010
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Blogs results (5)
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No one left behind? Gender segregation in the workplace sees women losing out

'Women belong in all the places where decisions are made', to borrow from the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These decisions are made everywhere and at every level: in the home and at the workplace; in the boardroom and on the shop floor. Which is why it is of such serious concern to see the ongoing deep

8 märts 2023
Mary McCaughey
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
Gender equality
Employment and labour markets
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Violence in the workplace: Women and frontline workers face higher risks

Women and frontline workers are most exposed to the risks of adverse social behaviour at work, such as burnout, exhaustion, anxiety and depression. This is according to the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021 (EWCTS). In this data story, we dive into EWCTS data (EU27) to examine the

27 veebruar 2023
Viginta Ivaškaitė-Tamošiūnė
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
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Job quality is pivotal in addressing today’s workplace and societal challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work. With the lifting of restrictions across the globe, we are now able to examine the many repercussions on the world of work. In particular, the unique demands of the last few years have shone a harsh spotlight on the pressures brought to bear

17 jaanuar 2023
Barbara Gerstenberger
Blog
Pay and income
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
Job quality
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High risk of depression persists following COVID-19 pandemic: Data behind the mental health crisis

Lower levels of health, increasing financial pressure and a significant degree of unmet healthcare: these are the findings of the fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty – a report that presents an overview of responses from over 200,000 people

6 oktoober 2022
Eurofound
Blog
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions and quality of life
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COVID-19 fallout takes a higher toll on women, economically and domestically

​​​​​​​While women appear to be more resilient than men to COVID-19 in terms of health outcomes, that is not the case when it comes to the economic and social fallout. Measures taken by governments to control the spread of the virus are exacerbating gender divides in unemployment, domestic labour

3 juuni 2020
Massimiliano Mascherini
Blog
COVID-19
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Unemployment
Work-life balance
Gender equality
Teleworking
Upcoming publications results (1)

ICT-based asocial behaviours at work: a review of research findings, policies and legislation

Over the last decade, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have changed the way employees work and communicate with each other. Despite the many benefits of digitalisation of work, the widespread access to digital devices in working life provides an alternative medium for new forms of a

September 2024
Forthcoming
Publication
Research report
Digitalisation
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work

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