Workplace stress policies linked to lower sick leave rates

New data and research highlight the impact of workplace stress and the potential benefits of formal stress policies. According to insurance company PFA, stress-related sick leave claims in the autumn months of 2025 were approximately 22 percent above the annual average, a trend consistent with previous years.

A study conducted by Epinion for HK Privat suggests that workplaces with established stress policies see lower rates of stress-related sick leave. The study found that 21 percent of employees at workplaces without a stress policy had been on sick leave due to stress within the last three years, compared to 14 percent at workplaces that do have such a policy.

Gitte Geertsen, Vice President of HK Privat, emphasizes that a formal policy allows management, employees, and union representatives to act earlier when signs of overload appear. The research also indicates that workplaces with these policies are more likely to measure employee stress levels and that management is more proactive in responding to high stress levels.