Intense time pressure and an increased workload are the main psychosocial factors affecting workers in Cyprus, with work-related stress significantly above the European average. Speaking on the program “Alpha News,” Dr. Olga Nikolaidou, Labor Inspector, highlighted the importance of protecting mental health in the workplace, emphasizing that addressing psychosocial risks is directly linked to the prevention of workplace accidents.
According to her, the results of a study conducted in 2025 on behalf of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work show that Cyprus has significantly higher levels work-related stress compared to the European average, while general work-related fatigue is slightly lower. Dr. Nikolaidou explained that the Labor Inspection Department, as the national focal point for the European agency, uses the findings to shape policies and actions. “It is very important that we pay close attention to the results of these surveys and shape our policies and actions accordingly,” she said.
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He placed particular emphasis on the link between mental health and workplace safety, noting that protecting workers also benefits businesses. “It is very important to prioritize employees’ mental health. For two reasons. First, because we are protecting the employee, and second, because we are protecting the sustainability and growth of businesses,” he noted. She also clarified that mental health is not limited to the absence of a mental disorder but encompasses an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Referring to the risks posed by workplace stress, Dr. Nikolaidou emphasized that recent research links psychosocial factors to an increased likelihood of workplace accidents, particularly in high-risk occupations. “An employee under pressure, especially in a high-risk sector such as construction sites, for example, is more likely to have an accident,” is more likely to have an accident,” he explained, emphasizing the need for prevention and timely mitigation of factors that place a burden on workers.
Regarding mitigation measures, he pointed out that there are practical solutions that companies can implement, such as reorganizing work, greater flexibility, and the use of telework, where feasible, with the aim of achieving a better work-life balance. At the same time, he noted that large companies and organizations in Cyprus have already begun hiring or contracting with specialized mental health counselors to support their staff. However, she identified a reluctance to engage in open discussion, a lack of specialized support, and limited awareness among employees and management as key obstacles.
Special mention was made of the health care and social welfare sectors, where, according to European studies, employees face greater stress compared to the average across other sectors. Dr. Nikolaidou noted that this sector employs approximately 10%–11% of the workforce at the European level, a fact that makes addressing psychosocial risks particularly important. In this context, she also referred to the awareness-raising activities held in Cyprus during the European Week for Safety and Health at Work, from October 19 to 23, which focused on promoting mental health and encouraging everyone to participate in the effort to create safer working conditions.
