The way work is organized, structured and managed has a direct impact on the safety and health of employees. 840 thousand people die a year from causes related to an unfavorable psychosocial environment at work Healthcare
Excessive demands, long working hours and lack of job security are detrimental to the health of workers and, as a result, to the economy as a whole. This is stated in a new report from the International Labor Organization (ILO).
According to the ILO, every year more than 840 thousand people die from diseases associated with an unfavorable psychosocial environment at work. And we are not just talking about overtime or excessive workload, but also about bad attitude, bullying and harassment. Chronic exposure to such an environment can lead to cardiovascular disease, mental illness and even suicide.
The ILO even calculated that if you add up all the years of healthy life lost by all the world’s workers due to disease, disability and premature death, the result is a total of 45 million years annually, and the associated economic life is equal to 1.37 percent of the global GDP.
The report highlights that how work is organized, structured and managed has a direct impact on the safety and health of employees, as well as organizational performance.
To gain a better understanding of psychosocial risks in the work environment, the report proposes an analysis of the nature of the work itself, including the demands and responsibilities, how it is organized, and the broader workplace policies governing work activities. Such policies include terms and conditions of employment, digital monitoring, performance appraisal and remuneration processes, occupational safety and health policies, procedures to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace, and mechanisms for consultation and participation of workers in decision-making.
How the ILO calculated the number of deaths
The figure of more than 840,000 deaths per year was calculated based on two main data sources. The first is data on the global prevalence of such things as work overload (high demands combined with low levels of control), imbalance between effort and reward, job insecurity, long working hours, and bullying and harassment in the workplace.
The second source is scientific research showing how these risks increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, stroke and mental health problems. disorders.
Global mortality and health data obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) were also used for the calculations.
In addition, the report summarizes a large body of evidence showing that poor psychosocial environments are associated with a wide range of mental and physical illnesses among workers, including depression and anxiety, as well as metabolic diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and sleep disorders. While the work environment is not new, radical changes in the world of work, including digitalization, artificial intelligence, remote work and new forms of employment, are leading to a transformation of the psychosocial work environment. At the same time, they offer opportunities for improved work organization and greater flexibility in the work environment.
“Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most serious occupational safety and health challenges in the world today,” said ILO Representative Manal Azzi.
“Improving the psychosocial work environment is important not only to protect the mental and physical health of workers, but also to improve productivity, organizational performance and economic development,” she added.
The report finds that countries and businesses can create healthier jobs that benefit both workers and organizations, while strengthening productivity and economic stability.