Policy-level interventions and work-related psychosocial risk management in the European Union

Abstract

There exists a substantial degree of diversity across strategies to prevent and manage work-related psychosocial risks and their associated health effects. Whereas it is common to distinguish between organizational and individual interventions, the important level of policy-level interventions has been largely neglected in the mainstream academic literature. Despite a number of significant developments towards the management of psychosocial risks that have been achieved at the policy level in the European Union (EU), these initiatives have not had the impact anticipated both by experts and policy makers. This paper discusses the policy context to the management of work-related psychosocial risks in the EU, identifying major achievements and challenges in relation to policy and practice. It draws on the findings of the PRIMA-EF project, a policy-oriented research programme funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme for Research. It is concluded that although a common policy context in the area of psychosocial risk management has developed in the EU, there still exists great variation in the translation of these initiatives into practice in different EU member states. Moreover, evaluation in this area is sporadic, even though it could inform the way forward as concerns both policy and practice developments.