The results also indicate that employees in specific sectors were more affected by an increase in work stress and work-related mental health problems, particularly those working in health care, nursing or service occupations.
At the same time, the results underline the importance of measures to promote occupational safety and health (OSH measures). Specifically, the results suggest that employees who report OSH measures at work (e.g. availability of psychosocial counselling at work) are less likely to report an increase in work stress. Another interesting finding of the country comparisons was that countries where a high proportion of companies had implemented protective and supportive measures before the pandemic also showed a lower increase in work stress during the pandemic. Overall, Nico Dragano and Morten Wahrendorf, the researchers from the University Hospital Düsseldorf, interpret the results as follows: "It is possible to protect employees from stress even in times of crisis if companies and employers implement health protection measures."
The full report and a summary can be found on the website of the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency EU-OSHA: