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Stress levels are rising among European Central Bank staff, according to a survey that found nearly 40 percent of its employees are at risk of burnout and 9 percent have suicidal thoughts.
The survey results, seen by the Financial Times, show anxiety in the workplace. ECB Violence has increased in recent years. Some staff say they suffer from burnout, while others feel they lack control, are treated unfairly or do not receive adequate support.
The results of the survey, which was carried out in April and May at the request of the ECB’s staff committee, elected by the central bank’s employees, have prompted union representatives to call for workers’ welfare to be taken more seriously.
Carlos Bowles, vice-president of the Ipso union representing ECB staff, said: “The last thing Europe needs now is to see the ECB’s internal processes affected by bad judgements or errors in data analysis before a crucial decision on interest rates is taken.”
In addition to the intense workload, Bowles cited concerns about the impact of favoritism and “manipulated recruiting” on staff. mental health.
The proportion of ECB employees who, according to the survey’s authors, are at risk of burnout rose from 33.2% in the previous survey in 2021 to 38.9% this year, with 146 employees, or 9.1% of respondents, reporting suicidal thoughts, up from 6.1% in 2021.
More than 72 percent of respondents reported suffering from at least one of the psychosomatic symptoms mentioned in the survey, a list that includes exhaustion, fatigue, mood disorders and disconnection.
The study, conducted by Psy@work, was based on responses from 1,602 members of the ECB’s total workforce of 5,089 employees.
The ECB said it had put in place measures “to address the issues that had been previously identified and that further measures are planned to address issues such as workload and career opportunities”. It added that staff had access to a 24-hour helpline, social counsellors and medical advice.
“We take the health and wellbeing of our staff very seriously and will continue to engage with the staff committee and all our colleagues on these issues and their root causes,” an ECB spokesperson said.
It is also reviewing its internal reporting, investigation and disciplinary procedures, and holding focus groups where staff can discuss stress at work and suggest ways to improve their working conditions.
Union officials have previously clashed with the ECB over pay issues, filing a lawsuit official complaint last year after staff received a 4 percent pay rise at the start of 2023, less than half the eurozone inflation rate of the previous year.
However, stress levels among ECB employees appear similar to those of the average European worker. 39% of EU-based workers surveyed in 2021 by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions complained of physical or emotional exhaustion.
This article has been modified since publication to correct the percentage of respondents who indicated They suffered from at least one of the psychosomatic symptoms mentioned in the survey.