Work wellbeing

Psychosocial Workload (PSA) – what is it?
A healthy and safe workplace does not only concern physical health, but also mental health of employees. The Dutch health and safety legislation requires employers to implement policies to prevent or minimise psychosocial workload (PSA).

PSA is about striking the right balance between work demands and sources of support, between what the work requires and an employee's capacity to cope. Factors such as job satisfaction, autonomy, role clarity, relationships with colleagues and managers play an important role in this. If the balance is structurally disrupted and this disruption lasts for too long, complaints can arise. The causes of an imbalance vary. Often it is due to excessive work pressure or undesirable behaviour in the workplace (such as bullying, aggression and violence, discrimination and (sexual) harassment).

The aim of HSB is to open the discussion about PSA and take action when needed within FHML-FPN. HSB does not do this alone, but operates within a network of professionals. Employees themselves also have a responsibility: treat each other with respect, report signs of problems, look out for each other and participate in surveys.

When should you take action?
We create a safe and healthy working environment together. If an employee feels unsafe or finds that the work is structurally too demanding, it is important to report this as soon as possible. Sometimes employees walk around with a knot in their stomach for years before they take the step to discuss it. That's a shame! The sooner the conversation takes place, the sooner unpleasant situations can be resolved.

Where can you go for help and support?
Within FHML-FPN and Maastricht University, there are various options for receiving help and support. You can always contact your HR advisor, the prevention officer PSA or the coordinator of the Concerns & Complaints Point with your questions and concerns. Depending on the nature of your question or concern, they can help you directly or refer you to other support providers within the organisation. Of course, you can contact other support professionals directly:

• Are you experiencing a socially unsafe situation?

  
  Then you can contact a confidential advisor. Socially unsafe situations include (sexual) harassment, aggression and violence, bullying and discrimination. Click here for more information, examples of situations and contact details of the confidential advisors. You can also contact the confidential advisors with your questions and concerns in a broader sense, so don't hesitate to do so. Important to know: a confidential advisor is there to support you. Conversations with confidential advisors are always confidential, and confidentiality is always guaranteed.
   

• Are you a PhD candidate and experiencing difficulties in your relationship with your supervisor(s), manager, colleagues or other PhD candidates?
  If so, you can contact confidential advisors specifically for PhD candidates. Each faculty at UM has appointed one or more confidential advisors for PhD students. The faculty confidential advisor is there to help with all kinds of problems that may arise during the PhD programme. Click here for more information and a list of PhD confidential advisors (scroll down a bit).
   
• Have you noticed something that is not right (an integrity issue)?
  Please also contact a confidential advisor. Integrity issues include fraud, theft, conflicts of interest, bribery and abuse of authority. Click here for more information and examples of situations.
   
• Are you dealing with an internal conflict or dispute (a labour dispute) between you and your manager or another colleague?
  Conflicts include disagreements about performance reviews, disputes about your contract, managers who do not comply with the collective labour agreement, or other matters relating to employment rights. If you are unable to resolve the issue with your colleague or manager, you can contact the ombudsperson. Click here for more information about how the ombudsperson can help you.
   
• Do you have health issues (physical or mental) and suspect that the cause is work-related?
  Then you can contact the company doctor. Click here for more information and the contact details of the company doctors.
   
• Does your work consistently demand too much of you and are you suffering from prolonged stress?
  Then you can contact the prevention officer PSA.