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Legislation regarding mental health and safety at work
A new executive order on psychological work environment came into effect on November 1, 2020, within the framework of occupational health and safety legislation. An executive order implements or clarifies the provisions of a law and is legally binding for citizens, businesses, and authorities.
The executive order consolidates and clarifies existing regulations on the psychological work environment. It also includes numerous provisions regarding factors that affect mental well-being at work and explicitly states that employers are responsible for preventing issues related to the psychological work environment.
The executive order on psychological work environment focuses on five key areas:
- High workload and time pressure.
- Unclear and conflicting job demands.
- High emotional demands in work involving people.
- Workplace harassment.
- Work-related violence both during and outside working hours.
It is the responsibility of management to ensure a healthy psychological work environment and to comply with legal requirements. It is essential that the leadership team continuously prioritizes efforts to maintain a positive psychological work environment.
At a minimum, a Workplace Assessment (APV measurement) must be conducted every three years, which must also include an evaluation of the psychological work environment.
You can read the full Executive Order on Psychological Work Environment here (in Danish):
