Le Passeport Santé - Stress in the Workplace

According to a survey published in 2011 by Health Promotion Switzerland, companies whose employees undergo a high level of stress may suffer losses of up to CHF 8,000 per person per year. In contrast, prevention reduces absenteeism by 1.7 day per employee per annum and amounts to a CHF 600 saving.

“Stress at work costs 10 billion francs per year."

Margaret Graf, Head of the Labour and Health Division of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

“In 2010 in Switzerland, approximately one third of workers (34%) reported feeling stressed often, or even very often, and the figure is constantly rising."

SECO, “ Le stress chez les personnes actives occupées en Suisse, 2011 ".

What can you do to reduce stress in your company?

Causes of work-related stress

“Professional stress factors have higher average values than those related to private life."

SUVA (Swiss Accident Insurance Fund) Bulletin 20088

Among these:

work disruptions
overwhelming workload
unresolved tensions and conflicts
lack of time to seriously plan and organise workload
lack of actual feedback (lack of recognition and constructive criticism)

Beyond massive overwork from the quantitative point of view (workload and lack of time for planning), social factors are the most often reported: disputes, lack of recognition for the work performed and lack of social support. Constant disruptions in the course of work are perceived as particularly tiresome.

Chronic stress factors (“stressors”), as a percentage of people in employment (N=709-1 005) according to the survey

“Stress in people in employment in Switzerland" SECO 2010 Survey on working conditions (FR).

Symptoms

One cannot measure how “stressed” people actually are on a daily basis as individual abilities to cope with pressure vary greatly. While some feel stressed by minor tasks, others develop their true potential only with mountains of work to be done.

However, various symptoms may indicate whether stress is about to take a hold on you:

Sleep disorders
Circulatory disorders e.g. palpitations or dizzy spells
Digestive disorders, lack of appetite
Muscular contractions, backache, neck pains, sore joints
Headaches
Weariness, exhaustion, lack of energy
Nervousness, trembling, agitation
Irritation, aggressiveness, chronic annoyance
Depressive tendency
Poor memory and concentration
Anxiety, panic attacks
Sexual disorders

Test your stress level (FR)!

“People with stressful jobs have a 23% increased risk of a heart attack"

The Lancet, September 2012.

“From a public health perspective, it is crucial for employers as well as government and hospital entities to monitor perceived employee job strain and initiate strategies to manage job strain and perhaps positively impact prevention of heart disease and employee productivity."

Dr. Michelle A. Albert

What we offer

Requirements analysis and stress diagnoses in your company
Customized solutions for your company
Introduction of an alternative medicine management system to fight stress in your company
Implementation and follow-up of in-house solutions
Individual and team coaching
Access to a wide network of therapists engaged in all fields of complementary medicine
Wide range of workshops and conferences to prevent and combat stress in the workplace