Psychosocial Work Load (PSA)
Psychosocial work strain (PSA) refers to the strain resulting from the interaction between work and the work environment, and the personal characteristics of employees. It includes the effects of work-related factors on the psychological and physical health of employees.
Read our full article here: PSA policy for a socially safe working environment
PSA can take several forms, including:
- Work pressure: Excessive task demands, tight deadlines, high productivity expectations and too large a workload can lead to stress and psychological strain.
- Emotional strain: Work that requires emotional involvement, such as healthcare professions or customer service, can lead to emotional exhaustion, empathy fatigue and stress.
- Undesirable behaviour at work: This includes bullying, intimidation, discrimination, sexual harassment and other unwanted behaviour that leads to psychosocial burden and an unsafe working environment.
- Lack of social support: A lack of support from colleagues, managers or a lack of participation in decision-making can contribute to psychological strain.
It is important for employers to recognize PSA, assess it and take appropriate measures to manage psychosocial risks in the workplace. This includes promoting a positive work culture, providing social support, creating a healthy work-life balance, addressing unwanted behaviour and providing resources and support to help employees cope with workload and stress. Preventing and reducing psychosocial workload contributes to the well-being of employees and the creation of a healthy and productive working environment. A confidential counselor can play an essential role
