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.
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.
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