Christmas stress: TÜV warns of constant accessibility on vacation!

Christmas stress: TÜV warns of constant accessibility on vacation!

Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, Deutschland - The concerns about the constant accessibility of employees are increasing, especially in the upcoming Christmas season. The TÜV association urgently warns that professional accessibility can become a serious health risk during the vacation. André Siegl, expert for occupational health and health at TÜV, finds that permanent accessibility can lead to chronic stress, sleep disorders and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. A current survey by the Bitkom digital association shows that half of the employees are still ready to check professional emails during the holidays or to react to calls. The constant interruption of recovery phases significantly lowers the regeneration ability of the employees, which has a negative impact on their performance in the long term, says Siegl.

legal framework and current developments

In Germany, the regulations on the accessibility in the Working Hours Act are anchored, which prescribes clear break and rest times. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Medicine explains that without specific regulations in the employment contract there is no obligation for employees to react to the news from superiors outside of working hours. Nevertheless, many employees are exposed to the pressure of the constantly available communication, which is also identified by scientists as a significant stress factor. According to a survey from 2023, 61 percent of those surveyed fear overload from permanent accessibility, which represents an increase of eleven percent compared to 2018

In order to reduce the negative effects on health, experts recommend measures such as switching off business mobile phones after work as well as clear agreements between employees and managers. Felix Brodbeck, a professor at LMU Munich, emphasizes that a good “detail” of work is necessary in order to be able to recover better and at the same time increase productivity. Currently, professional associations and companies in Germany are currently waiting for a new draft law on working time regulation, which should clarify all open questions, as reported by Tagesschau .

The TÜV association demands that employers actively make clear agreements on accessibility times in order to protect the health of their employees and to promote a balanced accessibility culture. This view is supported by the findings that organizations significantly benefit from a healthy balance between accessibility and relaxation. For this reason, too, it is important that both employees and employers share responsibility for a healthy work-life balance, such as "https://www.kabinett-online.de/sgesellschaft/tuev-verband-warnt-dauerklichklichklichklichwaehrend-des-wehnachtlaubs/"> Kabinett-online.de