Fight against burnout requires business leaders' attention: Dutch gov't

Minister Lodewijk Asscher of Social Affairs and Employment is calling on business leaders and employers to deal better with their employees work stress and help prevent burnouts. He is making 13 million euros in subsidies available to help them do so, the Minister announced at the start of Week of Work Stress in The Hague on Monday.

According to a study by TNO and Statistics Netherlands, nearly 2.7 million employees in the Netherlands have a heavy workload and about 1 million of them are at risk of burnout. That risk increases as the support from business leaders and colleagues decreases - 45 percent of employees with a heavy workload and little support have burnout symptoms, compared to 18 percent of employees with a heavy workload and support from leaders and colleagues.

Between now and November 25th, businesses can apply for subsidies for projects that focus on keeping employees working for longer and in a healthier way. Half of the costs will be subsidized, up to a maximum of 10 thousand euros.

The Ministry is also launching a special team next year that will support companies in dealing with work related stress, bullying and other inappropriate behavior in the work place. The team will train business leaders on how to provide necessary information and setting a good example.