Transcript Work, stress and health: How about the Dutch situation?

Work, stress and health in the
Netherlands?
Annet de Lange
28 Maart 2003
Mount Sinai Medical School
New York
The Dutch situation
1.
Facts and figures (also for Europe)
2.
Work stress model for explanation
3.
Dutch legal framework
4.
Preventive measures
5.
Lessons to be learned for other countries?
6.
Sources for finding trend information
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Some information about the Dutch
working population
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Workforce: 6.8 Million.
73% services, 23% industry, 4%
agriculture
17% male and 86% female are
part-timers
12% work incapacitated
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Facts and Figures
(Netherlands versus Europe)
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Job content
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Work related outcomes
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Job content (Netherlands)
1.
High work pressure:
-1997: highest level compared to
European countries (58%; Paoli, 1997),
increase of 11% from 1991-1995
-2002: second position, Sweden nr. 1.
2.
20% of Dutch people work in jobs with
high job demands and low job control
(Percentage in Europe: 25.7%)
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Pace of work (Europe)
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Job control (Netherlands)
Workers having a choice over their
100
%
75
72
70
59
1996
1998
2000
50
25
0
order of
tasks
pace of
work
methods of
work
Source: Houtman et al. (2002)
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Job Control (Europe)
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Work related outcomes
(Netherlands)?
1.
2.
2.
3.
4.
Work incapacity or disability twice as high
as other European countries
High Sickness absence:
25%-30% of long-term sick-leave (> 6
weeks) stress related
Work-related mental problems:
-30% -40% of work disability
-10% has been treated for burnout
Second diagnosis category: Musc. Skel.
Disorders
Total costs: 25 billion US $
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Main diagnoses of work incapacitation
across time (Netherlands)
35
30
25
% 20
Musc. skel.
Cardiovasc.
Respiratory
Mental
15
10
5
0
1967 1970 1975 1980 1986 1990 1995 1999
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Work related outcomes (Europe)
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Work related mental problems
and stress are a problem!
Not only in the
Netherlands,
but also in Europe!!
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Work stress model for explanation
stress complaints
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Dutch legal framework:
The Working Conditions Act
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Assess psychosocial risk-factors
Take preventive measures (at the
source)
Design jobs properly (‘healthy jobs’)
Join an Occupational Health and
Safety Service (OHSS)
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Working Conditions Act
[Employer’s obligations]
1.
Active policy to enhance occupational
health, safety, and well-being
2.
Active policy to prevent sickness
absence and to promote rehabilitation
of sick employees
3.
Risk identification and assessment via
an organizational audit
4.
Join an Occupational Health and
Safety Service (OHSS)
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Healthy jobs?
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Proper matching between job and
employee
Sufficient job control
Possibilities for skill enhancement
Opportunity for social contacts with
colleagues
Information and feedback about purpose
and results of one’s work
Avoidance of repetitive, short-cycle work
No sexual harassment or discrimination
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Tasks of OHSS’s
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Carry out risk assessments
Implement measures to increase
employee’s health, safety, and wellbeing
Social-medical guidance and
rehabilitation of sick employees
Carry out voluntairy individual
medico-psychosocial examinations
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Occupational Health and Safety Services
[Professions]
By law:
 Occupational
Physician
 Safety Engineer
 Work Hygienist
 ‘Work and
Organization
Expert’
Additional:
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Human Factors
Engineer
Work and
Organizational
Psychologist
Occupational
health nurse
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Work & Organizational Expert
[tasks]
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Organizational advice and
recommendation of measures
Psychosocial risk assessment
Implementation of measures
Co-ordination and integration of
measures
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Preventive measures
[types]
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Training of employees
Team meetings
Reduction of workload
Training of supervisors
Task rotation
Task enrichment
9%
8%
7%
7%
5%
5%
Source: Houtman et al., 1998
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Preventive measures
[critical success factors]
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Stepwise and systematic approach
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Adequate diagnosis or risk analysis
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Combination of measures
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Participatory approach
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Top management support
Source: Kompier & Cooper, 1999
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What lessons may be learned? [1]
1.
2.
3.
4.
An active governmental policy works
Working conditions legislation
should and can include psychosocial
work characteristics
A national infrastructure
(OHSS’s) is crucial
Special attention is needed for
small and medium sized companies
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
What lessons may be learned? [2]
5.
6.
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8.
Privatization of occupational
health has negative side effects
More stress intervention projects
need to be carried out and
evaluated (best practices)
Research and practice mutually
reinforce each other
A positive social climate
stimulates applied research.
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Conclusions
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Job stress is a problem in the
Netherlands (& Europe)
Research examining the relationship
between work and health is needed
Some lessons can be learned from
the Dutch situation
Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Want to know more?
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Websites:
-www.europfound.ie
-www.ilo.org
-www.socsci.kun.nl/psy/aeno
-www.waop.nl (links)
Example Articles:
-Schaufeli, W. B. & Kompier, M. A. J. (2001).
International Journal of Stress Management, 8, 1534.
-Houtman, L. D., & Kompier, M. A. J. (1995).
In: SL Sauter & LR Murphy (Ed.), Organizational
risk factors for job stress. Washington: APA, 209225
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Annet de lange, New York, 28 March 2003
Questions?