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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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Belgian presidency 2024: Eurofound's contribution

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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Spanish presidency 2023: Eurofound's contribution

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)

Työntekijöiden hyvinvointiin kohdistuvat psykososiaaliset riskit: Kokemuksia covid-19-pandemiasta

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
Työolot ja kestävä työ
Health and well-being at work
Etätyö
COVID-19
Työaika
Discrimination at work
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Eläminen, työskentely ja covid-19-pandemia Euroopan unionissa ja kymmenessä EU:n naapurimaassa

Eurofoundin alkuvuodesta 2020 aloittaman Eläminen, työskentely ja covid-19-pandemia -tutkimuksen tavoitteena on selvittää pandemian laaja-alaisia vaikutuksia EU:n kansalaisten työhön ja elämään. Keväällä 2022 toteutetulla Eurofoundin tutkimuksen viidennellä kierroksella käsitellään myös Ukrainan

07 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Skills and training
Social policies
Social inclusion
Psychosocial risks
Nuoret
Working conditions
Etätyö
Subjective well-being
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
COVID-19
Elinolot ja elämän laatu
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Eläminen, työskentely ja covid-19 -kyselytutkimuksen viides kierros: Eläminen uudella epävarmuuden aikakaudella

Eurofoundin viides, 25.3–2.5.2022 toteutettu sähköinen kyselytutkimus valottaa ihmisten sosiaalista ja taloudellista tilannetta eri puolilla Eurooppaa kaksi vuotta sen jälkeen, kun covid-19-tauti havaittiin ensimmäisen kerran Euroopan mantereella. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan myös elämistä Ukrainan

07 July 2022
Publication
Research report
Stand with Ukraine
Psychosocial risks
Nuoret
Etätyö
Subjective well-being
Trust
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
Unemployment
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Elinolot ja elämän laatu
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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-pandemian vaikutukset nuoriin EU:ssa

Pitkään kestäneen talouskriisistä elpymisen (2007–2013) jälkeen EU:n nuoret osoittautuivat olevan muita alttiimpia niiden rajoitteiden vaikutuksille, joiden käyttöönotolla pyrittiin hidastamaan covid-19-pandemian leviämistä. Nuoret kärsivät vanhempia ikäryhmiä todennäköisemmin työpaikan menetyksestä

09 November 2021
Publication
Research report
Social inclusion
Quality of society
Psychosocial risks
Nuoret
Subjective well-being
Trust
Työelämän ja koulutuksen ulkopuolella olevat
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Elinolot ja elämän laatu
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Elämä, työ ja covid-19 (päivitys huhtikuu 2021): Mielenterveysongelmat lisääntyvät ja luottamus heikkenee koko unionissa toisena pandemiavuonna

Helmi- ja maaliskuussa 2021 toteutettu Eurofoundin kolmas sähköinen kyselytutkimus valottaa ihmisten sosiaalista ja taloudellista tilannetta eri puolilla Eurooppaa, kun covid-19-rajoitusten kanssa oli eletty lähes kokonaisen vuoden ajan. Tässä raportissa analysoidaan tutkimuksessa sen käynnistämisen

10 May 2021
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Nuoret
Etätyö
Trust
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Inequality
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Työolot ja kestävä työ: työpaikkojen laatukehystä hyödyntävä analyysi

Tässä lippulaivaraportissa on yhteenveto keskeisistä havainnoista, joita Eurofound on tehnyt ohjelmakauden 2017–2020 aikana työoloista. Siinä kartoitetaan eteneminen työolojen parantamisessa vuoden 2000 jälkeen ja selvitetään, ovatko kaikki työntekijät hyötyneet myönteisestä muutoksesta yhtä paljon

26 February 2021
Publication
Flagship report
Psychosocial risks
Työaika
Työolot ja kestävä työ
Working conditions
Sustainable work
Undeclared work
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
Work organisation
Employment relationship
Health and well-being at work
Sukupuolten tasa-arvo
COVID-19
Työn laadukkuus
Ikääntyvä työvoima
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Eläminen, työskentely ja covid-19-pandemia

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
Palkka ja tulot
Psychosocial risks
Nuoret
Työaika
Työolot ja kestävä työ
Working conditions
Etätyö
Subjective well-being
Trust
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
Unemployment
COVID-19
Living conditions
Elinolot ja elämän laatu
Työn laadukkuus

Eläminen, työskentely ja covid-19: Ensimmäisiä tuloksia – huhtikuu 2020

Uuden koronaviruksen aiheuttama covid-19-pandemia muutti ihmisten elämää radikaalisti eri puolilla maailmaa vain muutamassa viikossa. Sen lisäksi, että suorat vaikutukset covid-19-virukseen sairastuneiden ihmisten terveyteen ovat vakavia, pandemian seuraukset ihmisten elin- ja työskentelytapoihin

06 May 2020
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Trust
Elinolot ja elämän laatu
Palkka ja tulot
Psychosocial risks
Työaika
Subjective well-being
Unemployment
Working conditions
Työ- ja yksityiselämän tasapaino
Living conditions
Etätyö
Työolot ja kestävä työ

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)

France: New measures to tackle workplace risks

Arduous working conditions and the harmful effects of electronic devices are among problems dealt with recently by occupational health and safety measures in France.

10 kesäkuu 2015
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

UK: Survey on well-being and stress of civil servants

Changing patterns of work organisation for civil servants in the UK are examined in a new report based on surveys of union members. Its recommendations could have wider applicability in the public sector because, since the research was undertaken, the right to request flexible working arrangements

27 toukokuu 2015
Article
Health and well-being at work
Working time
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Netherlands: Steady decline in job autonomy

Job autonomy – how far employees can regulate their own work – has been declining for decades in much of Europe. However, Dutch employees began to report a steady fall only in 2008. The Netherlands Working Conditions Survey (NWCS) indicates autonomy has shrunk most in the business services sector

6 toukokuu 2015
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Austria: Around 8% of employees suffer from permanent exposure to stress

29 huhtikuu 2015
Article
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

UK: Survey reveals stress at work remains a big health risk

26 maaliskuu 2015
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Lithuania: Reducing stress during periods of change

26 maaliskuu 2015
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Poland: Banking sector tackles stress

26 maaliskuu 2015
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Belgium: New legislation on preventing psychosocial risks

Belgium has a strong record when it comes to regulations relating to the well-being of employees in the workplace. Recently, steps have been taken to tighten up the rules when it comes to issues around psychosocial risks to workers, but employers fear changes have gone too far.

2 maaliskuu 2015
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Measures to tackle absenteeism and stress at work

Work absenteeism statistics in Slovenia suggest that between 38,000 and 40,000 employees are off work every day. The figures show the country loses 10 million working days a year due to temporary absence from work for health reasons – such as illness and injury – or because family members need care.

31 heinäkuu 2014
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Work-life balance
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Impact of electronic surveillance in the workplace

An unpublished qualitative study on electronic monitoring (EM) systems in the workplace was conducted in 2013 by Christine Garzia. The research formed part of her MSc in Occupational Psychology with Birkbeck University [1] in London. [1] http://www.bbk.ac.uk/front-page

31 heinäkuu 2014
Article
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work
Work organisation
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
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 maaliskuu 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 helmikuu 2023
Viginta Ivaškaitė-Tamošiūnė
Blog
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Subjective well-being
Health and well-being at work
A worker sitting on the floor

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 tammikuu 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 lokakuu 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 kesäkuu 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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