Practices from Around the World

As a modern time phenomenon, professional exhaustion is spreading around the workplace causing massive impacts on the individual and the organisations. This issue is a sign of societal dysfunction where urgency has become a way of living, and where hyperactivity and hyper connexion are overvalued. It also questions our own ways of representing ourselves, doubting the ideal of an ultra performant superhuman. Companies that look into their societal responsibility cannot ignore this phenomenon that is materializing in the professional sphere. This is the reason why some companies and institutions have taken initiatives to promote the well-being of their employees. The Sustainability MAG has taken a look at some of these practices from around the world.

In Companies...

À la City

Google, AstraZeneca or even Deutsche Bank have put in place mindfulness programs for their employees. Citigroup has thus launched “Living well in the Citi”, a program that raises awareness among employees on concept of health and well-being.

Crédit Suisse

Depuis 2014, Crédit Suisse interdit à ses banquiers de travailler le samedi. Les collaborateurs disposent également, dans toute la Suisse, de points de contact Health Management, auxquels ils peuvent s’adresser en dehors de leur hiérarchie.

Canon France, Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne

Canon France set up an email-free day once every quarter to encourage face-to-face interactions and the BPCE restricts access to its premises by closing the doors from 9pm to 7am.

Around the World

Japan

Since 1970, the Karôshi (Karô meaning “fatigue at work” and shi “death”), death caused by a heart attack or a cerebral haemorrhage after a work overload, is recognised as an occupational disease. This is also where cat cafes are multiplying, places that can decrease heart rate and help you to relax and fight against your fears, insomnia and even hypertension.

United States

In 1979, the first stress reduction clinic, the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Clinic, was created. To this day, 18,000 people have followed this program in over 200 hospitals in the country. It is an eight-week programme, six hours a week, which encourages patients to work on themselves, their mind and their relation to pain. 

Germany

The Klinik Bérus, the European Centre for Behavioural and Psychosomatic Medicine, treats more than 1,000 patients each year. The clinic specialises in psychological disorder treatments in case of harassment at work or even burnout. Some patients from neighbouring French-speaking countries are also temporary treated.

United Kingdom

The UK Health and Safety Executive set up management standards to instruct employers on work-related stress and make sure they are complying with these new requirements. Employers who do not comply may face charges or fines, and employees can also sue them.

France

The article 25 of the Labour law created “a right to disconnect”. From 1st of January 2017 onwards, organisations with more than 50 employees will soon be obliged to implement a charter of good conduct, setting out the hours outside of which staff are not supposed to send or answer emails.

To be read also in the dossier "The Burnout: breaking the taboo": 

• Facing the Explosion of the Phenomenon
• Patrick Mesters : “Organisations that dare to face burnouts will grow”
• Prevention and Diagnostic in Companies