A working group made up of occupational physicians and psychologists, experts from the National Institute for Research and Safety (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 occupational risk prevention firm Technologia, professional burnout affects approximately 3 million employees, all professional categories combined. This syndrome, which results in great fatigue or even depression, is particularly high among farmers, craftsmen, traders, business leaders and executives, according to this study.
“Burnout is the ultimate and catastrophic phase of stress”, summarizes the psychiatrist Patrick Légeron. However, burnout is still not recognized as an occupational disease. For this syndrome to be recognised, the disease must be of a severity justifying a permanent disability equal to or greater than 25% and a “direct and essential” link with the professional activity must be demonstrated.
In view of these figures, the working group will “clarify what burn-out covers with the aim 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.
