Brazil Enacts New Workplace Mental‑Health Rules as Burnout Cases Surge

Effective 26 May, Brazil’s updated Norma Regulamentadora 1 (NR‑1) obliges companies of all sizes to identify, monitor and prevent psychosocial risks such as stress, anxiety, harassment and overload. The rule was temporarily suspended for 90 days by Minister André Mendonça to give businesses additional time to comply.

Mental‑health‑related absences have risen sharply, with 472 000 leave cases recorded in 2024 – a 68 % increase over the previous year, according to the Ministry of Social Security. The technology sector is highlighted as especially vulnerable, with burnout‑related leaves up 493 % from 2021 to 2024. Psychiatrist Antônio Geraldo warned that “you never work eight hours… you’re always on, morning, afternoon, night, weekend.”

Experts advise firms to conduct psychosocial risk assessments, train leaders to spot early signs of distress, and establish continuous preventive actions. As one specialist noted, “Many believe a survey or report is enough, but the rule demands ongoing identification, monitoring and control of risks.”