FOCUS

PSYCHOSOCIAL RISKS

Psychosocial risks,

a business reality

A worker exposed to psychosocial risks shows signs of physical and psychological suffering.
Such sufferings have a direct impact on his/her efficiency, performance and productivity, as well as that of his/her organization.

The Swiss Confederation describes psychosocial risks as “one of today’s biggest health and security challenges.”

Risks inherent to a harmful or inadequate work setting

Psychosocial risks are increasingly present in workers’ everyday life. These are induced by the activity itself, or caused by work organisation or relationships.
They have an impact of workers’ mental and physical health.

According to a SECO study, 58% of respondents believe that conflicts and psychological harassment constitute the first source of stress at work. OECD* estimates the costs, in Switzerland, of psychological illnesses at 3.2% of GDP.

* The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Two hours a week are also devoted to conflict management, hence a total of 12 working days per year.
Today, 3 out of 5 Swiss workers suffer from stress in the workplace.
« We are in a quite wealthy industrialised country, which nonetheless does not do enough to manage psychosocial risks.»

Brigitta Danuser, Director at the “Institut universitaire romand de Santé au Travail” (IST).