| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.10, No.34, 7.10.04 |
| Publication Date | 07/10/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 07/10/04 EU COMPANIES whose employees are suffering from stress will have to take action under a new agreement signed by Europe's employers and trade union associations. Under the agreement, to be presented to the European Commission on Friday (8 October), employers will have to recognize that work-related stress is a valid part of EU health and safety law and protect their employees. "If a problem of work-related stress is identified, action must be taken to prevent, eliminate or reduce it," the text reads. But the agreement stops short of telling companies how they must tackle the problem saying only that "the responsibility for determining the appropriate measures rests with the employer". It also encourages employees to put anti-stress measures in place, including better-defined roles for individual workers and training managers to look for signs of stress and tackle it. High levels of absenteeism, internal disputes and complaints are just some of the indications that there could be a problem. This is the first time action has been taken at a European level on work-related stress, a problem that the Commission has estimated costs the EU _20 billion per year in lost time and health costs. A Commission study in 2002 found that 28% of employees claimed to be affected by this type of stress and that more than 50% of absenteeism is related to it. The most common causes cited are lack of control over hours worked and over the tasks to be undertaken. Monotony, tight deadlines and bullying are also factors. All members of European employers' associations, and of the trade union confederation ETUC will have to implement the new agreement within three years. ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME and CEEP signed a framework agreement on work-related stress which is a concern for both employers and workers. The agreement was then presented to the European Commission. This agreement, concluded after nine months of negotiations, is to be implemented by the members of ETUC, UNICE/UEAPME, and CEEP, rather than by European legislation. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://www.european-voice.com/ |
| Related Links | |
| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
