The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action

The report introduces an innovative approach structured around three interrelated levels to better understand the factors that shape the psychosocial working environment, including job demands, role clarity, workload, autonomy, working time arrangements, and fair and transparent processes, with the aim of supporting targeted and proactive prevention and management to improve workers’ safety, health and performance.

To highlight the health and economic impact of a poor psychosocial working environment, the report goes beyond reviewing the documented evidence and includes new ILO global estimates showing that psychosocial risk factors are responsible for more than 840,000 deaths annually, nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year, and an estimated annual loss equivalent to 1.37 per cent of global GDP. It also reviews international, regional and national policy developments and outlines practical approaches to preventing and managing psychosocial risks at the workplace level.