Germany: launch of a ‘national dialogue’ on workplace stress

Germany’s authorities and social partners continue to focus on the direct and indirect effects of workplace stress. In spite of the many nationwide plans and laws on the issue and against a backdrop of digitalization, all indicators and studies on the issue point to a sharp rise in stress as being cited as the underlying reason for employee sick leave. In a bid to manage this trend once and for all, the Ministry for Employment and Social Affairs (BMAS), together with the German Trade Union confederation (DGB), the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations (BDA), and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) are launching a ‘national dialogue’, which should enable a complete review of the legal framework that is combatting workplace-related stress, and by the end of 2018 at the latest.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

A growing recognition. Three nationwide studies in 2009 that were carried out by different actors in the world of health (c.f. article No. 090603) defined workplace-related stress for the first time as a key occupational health issue. Since then various occupational health and safety measures and laws have addressed the problem at different levels. On 05 September 2013 and following a year and a half of negotiations as part of the ‘The Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy (GDA)’

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
EU: insurance sector social partners commit to addressing violence and harassment at work
The news. The trade union UNI Europa Finance and the employers’ federations Insurance Europe, Amice and Bipar signed an addendum to their 2022 joint declaration on diversity and inclusion on...
18 September 2026
Juliette Baudry (Boiron): “An intergenerational mechanism to better accommodate different life stages”
Since 1 September 2026, employees of the pharmaceutical group Boiron (1,700 employees in France) have benefited from a “key life moments account”. Resulting from an agreement signed last February...
18 September 2026
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
EU: Commission proposes a list of worker-related criteria for public procurement
The news. On 9 September, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation aimed at unifying European public procurement law, which accounts for 15% of European GDP. It is notably set...
17 September 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Italy: artificial Intelligence on the menu of Barilla’s new company agreement
Prior consultation with trade unions on innovations related to artificial intelligence, strengthened training, and progress on parenthood: these are the main new features of the agreement signed...
2 September 2026
2
Italy: Enel signs agreement to manage the effects of AI on work
An agreement signed at the end of July by the electricity company Enel (31,000 employees) and the unions Filctem-Cgil, Flaei-Cisl, and Uiltec is pioneering in the Italian energy sector. It aims to...
7 September 2026
3
France: final document on the work of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference
After six months of discussions between French social partners, the guarantors of the Labour, Employment and Pensions Conference submitted the conclusions of the discussions to the Prime Minister...
17 September 2026
4
Germany: a high-tension start to the social and political year
The German government must finalize its major reforms (pension funding, corporate competitiveness, and labor law) while the chancellor’s popularity hits an all-time low and three regional...
5
Sweden: IF Metall union forced to end industrial dispute with Tesla
The news. After three years of conflict, the Swedish union IF Metall announced it would suspend its strike actions against Tesla starting Wednesday, August 19, after the American automaker...
6
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...