Job insecurity, job reorganisation most common causes of work-related stress

Around half of workers across Europe (51%) perceive that work-related stress is common in their workplace, with 16% saying it is 'very common' according to the poll.

Female workers are more likely than male workers to say that work-related stress is common (54% vs. 49%), as are workers aged 18-54 (53%) compared with workers aged 55+ (44%). Perceptions of work-related stress also vary by sector with those in health or care work being the most likely to say cases of work-related stress are common (61% including 21% who say cases are 'very common').

There is a link between the proportion of workers who say work-related stress is common where they work and those workers who say that work-related stress is not controlled well. Seven in ten (72%) workers across Europe who say work-related stress is rare in their workplace also say it is controlled well, while conversely six in ten (58%) workers who say work-related stress is common where they work also believe that it is not controlled well. 

The most common cause of work-related stress across Europe is perceived to be job insecurity or job reorganisation (72%) followed by hours worked or workload (66%).

However, among younger workers aged 18-34, these two causes are ranked joint highest (both at 69%). Furthermore, health or care workers are much more likely than average to select hours worked/workload (77%).

In countries with a higher level of public debt workers are more likely to cite job insecurity or job reorganisation as a perceived cause of work-related stress; 73% of workers in countries with public debt of more than 90% of GDP choose job insecurity or job reorganisation as a common cause work-related stress compared to 66% of those in countries with public debt of 60% of GDP or less.

Unacceptable behaviours such as bullying or harassment are perceived as a common cause of work-related stress by six in ten workers (59%). Fewer workers perceive a lack of support from colleagues or superiors (57%), a lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities (52%) or limited opportunity to manage work patterns (46%) as common causes of work-related stress.

Across Europe, half of those polled (52%) expect the proportion of workers aged 60+ in their workplace to increase by 2020 (43% think this is unlikely). Workers aged 55+ are more likely to think there will be a higher proportion of people aged 60+ in their workplace in 2020 (59%) than those aged 35-54 (54%), and younger workers aged 18-34 (45%).

One in eight workers (12%) are aware of policies and programmes making it easier for older workers to continue working up to or beyond retirement age. Awareness of policies increases as workplace size increases from 7% in the smallest workplaces (1-10 workers) up to 19% in the largest workplaces (more than 250 workers). Among those who are not aware of such programmes and policies, 61% support their introduction. Groups more likely to favour these policies include women, part-time workers, health or care workers and those in larger workplaces. Older workers aged 55+ are only slightly more likely than younger workers to support such policies (64% vs. 61% of workers aged 35-54 and 60% of workers aged 18-34).

When asked whether they thought older workers aged 60+ were more prone to certain behaviours than other workers:

• Only two in ten workers (22%) perceive older workers to have more accidents at work than other workers (this relationship is consistent among most groups although manual workers are slightly more likely to think this);
• Around three in ten (28%) think that older workers aged 60+ are less productive at work than other workers;
• Four in ten (42%) think that older workers tend to suffer more from work-related stress than other workers, while slightly more workers think the converse (48%); and -
• Six in ten workers (60%) believe that workers aged 60+ are less likely to be able to adapt to changes at work than other workers, and this perception is held by half (49%) of older workers aged 55+ (though it should be noted one in three of all workers (33%) believe that it is other workers who are less able to adapt to changes at work).