A working group made up of occupational physicians and psychologists, experts from the National Research and Safety Institute (INRS) and experts from the National Agency for the Improvement of Working Conditions (Anact) meets for the first time today to hear doctors and company representatives on the issue of professional burnout.
Burn out: 3 million people affected
According to a recent study by the professional risk prevention firm Technologia, professional burnout affects around 3 million employees, all professional categories combined. This syndrome, which results in great fatigue or even depression, is particularly high among farmers, artisans, traders, business leaders and executives, according to this study.
“Burnout is the ultimate and catastrophic phase of stress,” summarizes psychiatrist Patrick Légeron. However, burnout is still not recognized as an occupational disease. For this syndrome to be recognized, the disease must in fact be of a severity justifying permanent disability equal to or greater than 25% and that a “direct and essential” link with professional activity must be demonstrated.
In view of these figures, the working group will “clarify what burn-out covers with the objective of giving recommendations to better prevent this syndrome”. According to the Ministry of Labor, at the end of their work, the experts should publish recommendations to better prevent this syndrome in the summer of 2014.
