The European campaign Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress is a two-year campaign coordinated by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. The main objectives are:

• to raise awareness of stress and psychosocial risks in the workplace
• to provide and promote the use of simple, practical tools and guidance for managing psychosocial risks and stress in the workplace.
• to highlight the positive effects of managing psychosocial risks and stress in the workplace, including the business case.

Psychosocial problems at the workplace including stress can be caused for example by poor working relationships, excessive workload, lack of clarity over roles, ineffective communication, lack of support from management or colleagues, or harassment and violence.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between psychosocial problems including stress caused at the workplace and those caused in employees’ private life. It may not always be clear what is the root cause of the problem.

Measures to tackle psychosocial risks need to be adaptable in different countries, sectors and workplaces. A targeted approach is the best way to deal with such risks, as they are very much dependant on cultural and personal factors.

The European social dialogue has led to concrete outcomes in tackling psychosocial risks at the workplace through our two agreements on stress and harassment and violence.

This is a highly complex area. Dealing with it requires an integrated approach taking into account the job content, working conditions, work environment, work relations, career perspectives, work-life balance as well as elements not strictly linked to the work situation (health, family situation, personality, etc.).

Interventions from different fields of expertise are needed. A stimulating, non-binding, broad, integrated multi-stakeholder approach is preferable. At policy level a better coordination/collaboration between employment, health, education and working conditions policies is indispensable. It is important to recognise the role of public health services and to clearly distinguish this from the workplace.

Psychosocial problems at the workplace including stress can be caused for example by poor working relationships, excessive workload, lack of clarity over roles, ineffective communication, lack of support from management or colleagues, or harassment and violence.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between psychosocial problems including stress caused at the workplace and those caused in employees’ private life. It may not always be clear what is the root cause of the problem.

This is a highly complex area. Dealing with it requires an integrated approach taking into account the job content, working conditions, work environment, work relations, career perspectives, work-life balance as well as elements not strictly linked to the work situation (health, family situation, personality, etc.).

Interventions from different fields of expertise are needed. A stimulating, non-binding, broad, integrated multi-stakeholder approach is preferable. At policy level a better coordination/collaboration between employment, health, education and working conditions policies is indispensable. It is important to recognise the role of public health services and to clearly distinguish this from the workplace.

"Employers are committed to protecting workers from health and safety risks at the workplace, including psychosocial risks such as stress. We are convinced that good safety and health performance helps business competitiveness. Avoiding high levels of staff absence and sickness is not only positive for workers but also for business continuity. Different approaches are needed for different workplaces. Cultural and individual attitudes to stress have to be taken into account. Such issues are often extremely sensitive and personal, therefore companies need good advice and tools. We hope that this campaign will help in providing them. We are looking forward to actively engaging in the campaign to ensure that the business community’s voice is heard in this debate."