A third stressed at risk level – higher stress among those who work from home

Falck's new report, Stress in working life, is based on more than 25,000 health and work environment profiles, sickness statistics from 150,000 employees and data from our deliveries of health and work environment services.  

The report shows that a third experience stress at risk level, women are more affected than men.  

"Unhealthy stress is a major challenge, and employers need to investigate the underlying causes more closely and work to create a work environment that promotes health. We can see that women both experience higher stress and are more often on sick leave due to mental illness, this needs to be taken seriously. At the same time, we know that men are less likely to seek help for mental illness, which means that there may be a dark number," says Maria Steneskog Nyman, psychologist and head of Falck Sjuk och Frisk. 

The highest stress levels are reported by women under 30 years old. A total of 45.5 percent of women under 30 report stress at a risk level, of which almost 17 percent report stress levels at high risk. Women between 30-50 years report almost equally high stress levels. Men over 50 years report the lowest stress levels.   

“It is important to support young employees who are new to the work life and who early on show signs of stress-related ill health. This can involve extra support and follow-up when newly employed, mentorship, and close communication with the manager. But also to support young employees in their expectations to be able to take self-leadership in health and their own needs to be sustainable in the work life,” says Åsa Miemois, health developer at Falck.

Many organizations have transitioned to hybrid working methods, where work can be performed both on-site and remotely. Hybrid and remote work increase flexibility but also require creating good conditions for the physical and psychological work environment. Those who work more than half the time from home report stress at a risk level to a greater extent. Among those under 30 years old who work from home more than half the time, 46.2 percent report stress at a risk level.

“Hybrid and remote work are now a given in many industries. Flexibility increases, but it also places new demands on structures, meeting formats, and leadership. The opportunity for social interaction and collegial exchange risks decreasing when we see each other less at the workplace,” says Lena-Karin Allinger, organizational consultant at Falck.

The report also shows how stress and other lifestyle factors interact. Individuals with high stress levels tend to also sleep worse, exercise less, and experience lower energy levels. They also perceive their work environment as worse and more often have problems with body pain.

“Stress has become an increasingly common cause of sick leave, and the workplace's demands, culture, and organization play a significant role. It requires active work focusing on organizational factors combined with individual adjustments. Companies and organizations need to focus on creating a health-promoting work environment, where support, recovery, and balance are also prioritized,” says Lena-Karin Allinger, organizational consultant at Falck.

Sick leave is often due to a combination of increased work demands, higher stress levels, and difficulties in balancing work and private life. Women under 30 years old are those who most experience high stress and psychosocial issues, but when we look at those who end up on long-term sick leave for this problem, it is women over 30 years old who are most affected.

“To reduce the risk of long-term sick leave, it helps to have systems in place to catch early signs of ill health and to continuously monitor individuals' well-being and job satisfaction. A sustainable workplace promotes both performance and health,” says Maria Steneskog Nyman, licensed psychologist and head of Falck Sick and Healthy.

Understanding the causes of stress, its effects, and which groups are most vulnerable is crucial for creating healthy, sustainable workplaces and simultaneously preventing sick leave related to stress-related issues.

“Experiencing stress is a natural part of life, and having shorter periods of stress is not dangerous in itself. However, if I am under prolonged stress and do not have the opportunity to recover, it can have negative consequences,” says Åsa Miemois, health developer at Falck.