Burnout syndrome becomes a ticking time bomb

IG-Metall: Burnout syndrome is ticking time bomb: The union calls for anti-stress regulations in the workplace

27.09.2011

Constantly increasing working hours, supervisors demanding consistently higher work performance from their employees, and many times the fear of losing their own jobs in times of crisis: The union IG Metall warns of grave social problems, because more and more workers feel burned out and increasingly complain of psychological problems diseases. With an increase in the Burnout Syndrome, the union calls for so-called anti-stress regulations to keep workers from exodus through work.

People in Germany are exposed to ever more massive stress at the workplace. Numerous evaluations of the health insurance proves increasing patient data in the field of mental illness. At the forefront of the reasons for medical sick leave are depression and symptoms of congestion. In view of this dramatic development, the IG Metall union demands legal protection against excessive stress in the workplace. A corresponding legislation was not only in the interests of the employees, but also of the German society. Because mental illnesses are increasingly becoming an economic danger in the opinion of trade unionists. "There is nothing short of a social time bomb here," warned IG Metall board member Hans-Jürgen Urban today in Berlin during the presentation of an internal study. More and more people are under pressure from employers and show signs of depressive episodes or fatigue syndrome. According to offers of help or even preventive measures there are hardly any jobs. Stress and burnout have already reached a massive level in working life. It was negligent to continue to ignore the problems or incidentally under „also ran to treat ".

Demanded anti-stress regulation
Already in other countries appropriate regulations were made, which led to a clear relief of the people. In order to protect workers against increasing work density and physical and mental exhaustion symptoms, the black and yellow federal government must bring an anti-stress regulation on the way. Such a regulation could be made similar to the rules on noise protection. Employers, workers' organizations and politicians should work together to develop appropriate standards to protect people from stress-related health risks.

Increase in mental illness in the farms
In addition to the health insurance data, the IG Metall relies in its statements on a survey of about 4,000 works councils. During the lightning survey participants were asked about stress and burnout of employees in their work and organization area. An overwhelming majority (86 percent) said that mental illnesses are seen as a significant problem area in their operations. About 40 percent of works councils said they perceive a moderate to large increase in mental illness among employees. 63 percent said that such offers were missing or hardly offered to those affected. 73 percent called for better health protection for workers. „It should be done more for health protection“.

Although the survey study is only a snapshot, as the union official said, but the results coincide with the evaluations of the statutory health insurance. The Scientific Institute of the general local health insurance AOK (WidO) had recently calculated that every tenth sick leave go to the account of mental disorders. Since 1999, absenteeism due to mental illness has increased by more than 80 percent to date. Last year alone, about 100,000 patients were on sick leave due to the diagnosis of burnout. At 23.4 days per patient, mental illnesses last twice as long as the average of 11.6 days per case. The cost of care has thus increased rapidly in recent years, causing the health care system an annual cost of around 27 billion euros. According to the institute, the production downtime costs of companies amount to about 26 billion euros per year. The missing days for the year 2010 were estimated by the AOK Wissenschaftsinstitut with 1.8 million working days.

„This must finally be countered“ Urban demanded. The pressure should be increased by the policy on the employers, so that they are forced to improve working conditions. The IG Metall demands legal anti-stress instructions, which are already used in other countries such as Sweden, France or Italy today.

The most significant triggers of mental disorders are massive overtime, under-demands, overwork, poor leadership management, and a growing workload that barely any employee can do. In addition, the ongoing economic and financial crisis is weighing on people increasingly. Many feel an increasing uncertainty and are afraid of impending unemployment. The companies have overcome the crisis, „but the employees pay the costs“ Urban criticized. About 68 percent of the surveyed works councils stated that stress and overburdening have increased significantly since the economic crisis. „However, the business administration should not enthrone the health of the people“, Urban said. There are classic rules that protect workers from health hazards such as noise or pollutants. Now finally rules against too much stress and pressure to perform must be created. Here is the legislature to protect people in the duty.

First warnings of burnout syndromes
Many people do not notice the first warning signs and flee into an increased commitment to a specific goal at work. In the initial phase, those affected work non-stop, many even work on weekends. The work develops in the patients as a supposed center of life. Your own emotional needs are put back in the service of the cause. Those who do not have the same work ethic are often devalued in the team of colleagues. Social contacts are increasingly being reduced to business partners. If many still feel well at this stage, others are already beginning to compensate for stress with overeating, smoking or alcohol. Gradually, a chronic fatigue is noticeable. Other symptoms such as inner restlessness, depressive moods, sleep disturbances, heart stumbling, dizziness or lack of concentration cause the cask to overflow. Those affected feel empty and burned out. Many take years to regain their mental, physical condition before exhaustion. (Sb)

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Image: Gerd Altmann, Pixelio.de