The report, The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action, found that psychosocial risks — such as long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment — are now a major driver of illness and death worldwide.

These risks are primarily linked to cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, including suicide, and result in nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually.

Economically, the toll is steep: losses tied to these risks are estimated at 1.37 percent of global GDP each year, reflecting reduced productivity and the cost of poor health.

“Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work,” said Manal Azzi, Team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO.

“Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organizational performance and sustainable economic development,” he added.

The ILO defines the psychosocial working environment as how jobs are designed, organized, and managed, including workload, autonomy, job security, and workplace culture.

The report identifies three key layers shaping worker well-being:

• The job itself — including demands, skills match, and task design
• Work organization — such as workload, pace, and supervision
• Workplace systems — including policies, contracts, and management practices

When poorly handled, these factors can combine to create harmful conditions, leading to stress, burnout, and long-term health problems.

The findings are based on global data covering five major risk factors: job strain, effort–reward imbalance, job insecurity, long working hours, and workplace bullying and harassment. These were matched with health data from the World Health Organization and the Global Burden of Disease study to estimate their impact.

The report also warns that rapid changes in the world of work — driven by digitalization, artificial intelligence, and remote work — could worsen these risks if left unmanaged.

At the same time, these shifts offer opportunities to redesign work in healthier and more flexible ways, provided governments and employers act proactively.

The ILO emphasized that integrating psychosocial risk management into occupational safety and health systems, and strengthening dialogue between governments, employers, and workers, will be key to reversing the trend.

By addressing these risks at their root, the report concludes, countries and companies can protect workers while strengthening productivity and long-term economic resilience.

Citing a 2023 survey by Aon and TELUS Health, the report found that 60 percent of Filipino workers said mental health struggles have negatively impacted their productivity — second only to Malaysia at 62 percent and higher than Vietnam (53 percent) and Thailand (50 percent).

Beyond productivity, stigma remains a major barrier. The same study showed that 75 percent of workers in the Philippines believe disclosing mental health concerns could limit their career opportunities — one of the highest rates globally.

Across Asia, more than half of workers share this fear, reflecting a workplace culture where speaking up may come at a cost.

The report underscores that how work is designed and managed — through long hours, heavy workloads, and job insecurity — is increasingly shaping both employee well-being and business performance.

“Psychosocial risks are becoming one of the most significant challenges for occupational safety and health in the modern world of work,” said Manal Azzi, Team Lead on OSH Policy and Systems at the ILO.

“Improving the psychosocial working environment is essential not only for protecting workers’ mental and physical health, but also for strengthening productivity, organizational performance and sustainable economic development,” Azzi added.

Globally, an estimated eight in ten office workers report not having enough time to complete their tasks, based on a 2025 study cited in the report, highlighting the widespread nature of excessive workload pressures, including among Filipino workers.

Still, the Philippines is among countries whose occupational safety and health (OSH) frameworks already recognize that worker health includes both physical and mental dimensions, placing responsibility on employers to address these risks.

The ILO stressed that psychosocial risks — ranging from long hours and job insecurity to workplace harassment — can be prevented if companies address their root causes through better job design, clearer expectations, and stronger worker support systems.

As workplaces evolve with digitalization, remote work, and artificial intelligence, the report warns that these pressures could intensify unless addressed early.

By tackling these risks, the ILO said, countries like the Philippines can build healthier workplaces that not only protect workers but also improve productivity and economic resilience.