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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)

Risques psychosociaux pour le bien-être des salariés: enseignements tirés de la pandémie de COVID-19

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
Les conditions de travail et le travail durable
Health and well-being at work
Télétravail
COVID-19
Temps de travail
Discrimination at work
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Vivre, travailler et COVID-19 dans l’Union européenne et dans 10 pays voisins de l’UE

L’enquête «Vivre, travailler et COVID-19», lancée pour la première fois par Eurofound au début de l’année 2020, vise à rendre compte de l’incidence considérable de la pandémie sur le travail et la vie des citoyens de l’Union. Le cinquième cycle de l’enquête d’Eurofound, qui a été mis en œuvre au

07 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Skills and training
Social policies
Social inclusion
Psychosocial risks
Jeunesse
Working conditions
Télétravail
Subjective well-being
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
COVID-19
Conditions et qualité de vie
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Cinquième cycle de l’enquête en ligne intitulée «Vivre, travailler et COVID 19: vivre dans une nouvelle ère d’incertitude»

La cinquième série de l’enquête en ligne d’Eurofound, menée du 25 mars au 2 mai 2022, met en lumière la situation sociale et économique des habitants de toute l’Europe deux ans après la détection du premier cas de COVID 19 sur le continent européen. Elle porte également sur la réalité de la vie dans

07 July 2022
Publication
Research report
Stand with Ukraine
Psychosocial risks
Jeunesse
Télétravail
Subjective well-being
Trust
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
Unemployment
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Conditions et qualité de vie
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Les personnes handicapées et la pandémie de COVID-19: Conclusions de l’enquête en ligne Vivre, travailler et COVID-19

Une nouvelle stratégie européenne en faveur des personnes handicapées a été lancée en 2021 dans le but d’intensifier les progrès en vue de garantir la pleine participation des personnes handicapées à la société. Il est opportun de mettre davantage l’accent sur les personnes handicapées dans les

21 March 2022
Publication
Policy brief
Services publics
Psychosocial risks
Subjective well-being
Trust
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Conditions et qualité de vie
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Incidence de la COVID-19 sur les jeunes dans l’UE

Après une longue période de reprise au sortir de la crise économique (2007-2013), les jeunes de l’UE se sont révélés plus vulnérables aux effets des restrictions mises en place pour ralentir la propagation de la pandémie de COVID-19. Les jeunes étaient plus susceptibles que les groupes plus âgés de

09 November 2021
Publication
Research report
Social inclusion
Quality of society
Psychosocial risks
Jeunesse
Subjective well-being
Trust
NEET
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Conditions et qualité de vie
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Vivre, travailler et COVID-19 (mise à jour avril 2021): la santé mentale et la confiance se dégradent dans l’ensemble de l’UE tandis que la pandémie entame sa deuxième année d’existence

La troisième série de l’enquête électronique d’Eurofound, menée en février et mars 2021, met en lumière la situation sociale et économique des habitants de toute l’Europe, dont l’existence est soumise depuis près d’un an aux restrictions liées à la COVID-19. Le présent rapport analyse les

10 May 2021
Publication
Research report
Living and working in Europe
Psychosocial risks
Jeunesse
Télétravail
Trust
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
Health and well-being at work
COVID-19
Living conditions
Inequality
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Conditions de travail et travail durable: analyse fondée sur le cadre de la qualité de l’emploi

Ce rapport phare résume les principales conclusions des recherches d’Eurofound sur les conditions de travail menées au cours de la période de programmation 2017-2020. Il recense les progrès accomplis depuis 2000 dans l’amélioration des conditions de travail et examine si tous les travailleurs ont

26 February 2021
Publication
Flagship report
Psychosocial risks
Temps de travail
Les conditions de travail et le travail durable
Working conditions
Sustainable work
Undeclared work
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
Work organisation
Employment relationship
Health and well-being at work
Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes
COVID-19
Qualité de l’emploi
Vieillissement de la main-d’œuvre
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Vivre, travailler et 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
Rémunération et revenu
Psychosocial risks
Jeunesse
Temps de travail
Les conditions de travail et le travail durable
Working conditions
Télétravail
Subjective well-being
Trust
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
Unemployment
COVID-19
Living conditions
Conditions et qualité de vie
Qualité de l’emploi

Vivre, travailler et COVID-19: premières conclusions – avril 2020

En quelques semaines seulement, la pandémie de COVID-19 causée par le nouveau coronavirus a radicalement transformé la vie de la population dans le monde entier. Outre les conséquences sanitaires dévastatrices sur les personnes directement touchées par le virus, la pandémie a eu des répercussions

06 May 2020
Publication
Research report
COVID-19
Trust
Conditions et qualité de vie
Rémunération et revenu
Psychosocial risks
Temps de travail
Subjective well-being
Unemployment
Working conditions
Équilibre entre vie professionnelle et vie privée
Living conditions
Télétravail
Les conditions de travail et le travail durable

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)

Work-related mental stress focus of research and policy debate

An annual Absenteeism Report (in German) [1] has looked at the impact of flexible working on employees’ levels of stress and related health risks. The 2012 research was jointly compiled by WidO [2], the research institute of public health insurer AOK [3], and Bielefeld University [4]. The study was

14 février 2013
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Work-life balance
Work organisation
Health and well-being at work
Working conditions
Living conditions and quality of life
Working conditions and sustainable work

Well-being at work in the healthcare sector

A report, Development and protection of well-being and organisational health in healthcare (in Italian, 3.88Mb PDF) [1], is being promoted by the Italian Federation of Hospital and Local Health Agencies (FIASO [2]) with the aim of establishing a shared protocol for assessing the risks of work

8 janvier 2013
Article
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Work organisation
Work-life balance
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Women workers and managers more prone to headaches

Headache is a very common health problem. The worldwide point prevalence of headache, regardless of type, has been estimated to be as high as 46% in the general adult population (Stovner et al, 2007).

16 décembre 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Low levels of company allegiance among employees

GfK [1] is a leading market research agency. Its survey on employee engagement, pressure and stress related to employment, the GfK International Employee Engagement Survey [2], was conducted by the agency’s Custom Research sector [3] in April 2011. The survey was carried out across 29 countries, and

16 décembre 2012
Article
Psychosocial risks
Work-life balance
Living conditions and quality of life

Playing the game to tackle work-related stress

Work-related stress is one of the most serious occupational hazards in the Netherlands. It is caused by a variety of factors, including the content and organisation of work, the management style of supervisors and the organisational culture.

15 novembre 2012
Article
Skills and training
Psychosocial risks
Health and well-being at work

Emotional exhaustion may trigger cut in working hours

With labour shortages expected in the coming years, the Dutch Government is searching for opportunities to increase the number of hours each person works.

23 octobre 2012
Article
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Effects of work environment and family–life balance

The Work and Family–Life Balance Barometer 2012 (/Barómetro de Conciliación/) was created using data collected from 710 questionnaires completed by Spanish employees. Using these data, the business services consultancy firm Edenred [1] and IESE Business School [2] have published a report (in Spanish

17 octobre 2012
Article
Job quality
Employment and labour markets
Psychosocial risks
Living conditions and quality of life
Work-life balance

New research on work-related cardiovascular diseases

A recent study, Arbetsmiljöns bidrag till hjärt-kärlsjukdom (1.88Mb PDF) [1], commissioned by the Swedish Work Environment Authority (AV [2]), investigated the extent to which the working environment is an underlying factor in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and stroke in Sweden. The study

11 octobre 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Psychosocial risks

Impact of cost-cutting strategies on working conditions in hospitals

A recent study called Restructuring in hospitals and its impact on working conditions (in German, 368Kb PDF) [1] has been carried out by the Working Life Research Centre (FORBA). [2] It focuses on the impact of new management strategies in hospitals on the working conditions of employees. [1] http:/

27 septembre 2012
Article
Pay and income
Work organisation
Psychosocial risks
Working time
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work

Survey finds men more exposed to physical risks at work than women

The report Health and Morbidity in Denmark 2010 – & developments since 1987 (in Danish, 12.12Kb PDF) [1], is the fifth study conducted by the Danish National Institute of Public Health (NIPH [2]) among the adult Danish population since 1987. [1] http://www.si-folkesundhed.dk/upload/susy_2010_til

18 septembre 2012
Article
Health and well-being at work
Job quality
Psychosocial risks
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 mars 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 février 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 janvier 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 octobre 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 juin 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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