Nurses deserve respect: improvements in the event of difficult work decided!

Nurses deserve respect: improvements in the event of difficult work decided!

The role of nursing staff is increasingly recognized as crucial for the health system. It is estimated that every day over 190,000 people in various areas such as hospitals, nursing homes and at home do valuable work. This often leads to high physical and psychological stress, as many nurses reach their limits. Therefore, the federal government has decided to include nurses in the heavy work ordinance. Minister of Health and Social Affairs Korinna Schumann and ÖVP club chairman August Wöginger announced this significant decision and presented the cornerstones of the planned improvements. This decision testifies to respect and appreciation for a professional group that often works under difficult conditions, such as [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250422_ots0068/schumannwinger-pflegekraefte-werbeitsverung-t.

From now on, legislation recognizes the extraordinary challenges in nursing. In the future, nursing staff can retire if they have at least 45 years of insurance and have been working in a job with difficult work in the past 20 years. An objectified view of the criteria for heavy work is also introduced, which includes psychological stress and multiple loads. This is particularly relevant, since nurse often do irregular services and stressful night work, while they also look after people in psychological crises, as the [Chamber of Lower Austria Workers' Chamber] (https://noe.fernkammer.at/interessenstivetung/arbeitsoziales/Gesundes-_dflege-_und_betreufenberufe explains.

improved conditions for nursing staff

This decision is of existential importance for nurses in the mid -60s. The long -demanded extent of recognition now becomes a reality by adapting the conditions for the recognition of difficult work to reality. In addition, the recognition is to be improved in order to meet the responsibility that this professional group bears because it is responsible for the health and life of people.

The current regulations in the general pension law compiled with the heavy work ordinance, as analyzed by drda.at, that mental stress is only recognized as heavy work in certain areas of work. This inequality is expected to reduce the new regulation. The Federal Government aims to improve the working conditions of nursing staff, in particular through targeted changes in working hours, duty roster and personnel relief in order to make the nursing profession more attractive.

Nursing experience to recognize difficult work

In a similar context, court decisions are made about the heavy working hours of supervisors. A case that was discussed in court judgments shows that specialist supervisors who are responsible for seriously ill people or those with high care needs are potentially entitled to severe working hours. A decision by the Supreme Court made it clear that the intensity of care and the type of psychological stress are crucial for whether an activity as a heavy work is recognized. This affects not only medical professions, but also the work of supervisors in workshops, as it is explained in an example.

The currently made legal changes are not only a step towards appreciation, but also a fundamental reform to improve working conditions and recognition of nurses. This initiative is the result of long -term claims and broad support from society, which now bears fruit.