Brazil mandates mental‑health risk management in workplace under revised NR‑1 rule

On 26 May 2026 Brazil's updated Norma Regulamentadora 1 (NR‑1) entered into force, expanding occupational safety duties to formally include psychosocial risks. Employers must now identify, assess, prevent and monitor factors such as excessive workload, unrealistic targets, long hours, harassment and poor communication, and incorporate them into the Programa de Gerenciamento de Riscos (PGR).

The change responds to a surge in mental‑health‑related leave – over 546,000 absences recorded in 2025 – and subjects mental‑health hazards to the same documentation and inspection requirements applied to physical dangers. Companies are urged to develop metrics, keep records and demonstrate effective controls, with leadership and compliance functions taking greater responsibility. Labor‑law specialist Gregório Andrade said, “There is a significant difference between meeting a regulatory duty and building a psychologically safe environment.”