Brazil Updates Labor Rule NR‑1 to Cover Psychosocial Risks in Workplaces
Brazil’s occupational health and safety regulation, Norma Regulamentadora 1 (NR‑1), was revised to require companies to identify, assess and manage psychosocial risks, marking a shift from treating mental‑health issues as individual problems to addressing workplace conditions. The change follows a sharp rise in mental‑disorder‑related absences, with the national social security system reporting 546,254 cases in 2025 – a 15.66% increase over the previous year – and burnout cases having nearly tripled, up 800% over four years.
Acrisure Brasil’s 2025 study quantified the financial impact: 12,636 medical certificates for mental disorders led to 48,932 lost workdays, an average absence of 3.87 months, with 40% of the costs concentrated among workers aged 25‑34. The firm’s managed‑absence program delivered a 153% return on investment, while research by Wellhub showed 89% of Brazilian leaders believe mental‑health problems raise company costs. The regulatory update obliges firms to move beyond isolated wellness benefits toward building healthier work environments, balanced workloads, and supportive leadership.
Industry experts such as Francisco Cantão, CEO of Clube Ben, and Márcio Tosi, Vice‑President of Corporate Benefits at Acrisure Brasil, stress that effective prevention, early risk detection and systemic changes are essential for talent retention and productivity.
Entities: Acrisure Brasil · Brazil · Francisco Cantão · Márcio Tosi · Norma Regulamentadora 1 (NR‑1) · Wellhub
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In 2025 Brazil recorded 546,254 workplace absences due to mental disorders, a 15.66% increase from the previous year. (INSS data cited in articles.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Wellhub research indicated 89% of Brazilian leaders believe mental‑health problems increase company costs. (Wellhub survey cited.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Brazilian Labour Regulation (NR‑1) was updated to include psychosocial risks in occupational health and safety management. (Regulatory update cited in multiple articles.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Acrisure’s managed‑absence program delivered a 153% return on investment in 2025. (Acrisure Brasil performance data.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The average duration of mental‑health‑related absenteeism in 2025 was 3.87 months. (Acrisure Brasil study.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Burnout cases in Brazil have nearly tripled, with an 800% increase over the past four years. (Industry observation reported in article.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Acrisure Brasil’s 2025 study found 12,636 medical certificates for mental disorders resulted in 48,932 lost workdays. (Study by Acrisure Brasil.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Forty percent of mental‑health benefit claims were concentrated among workers aged 25‑34. (Acrisure Brasil study.)