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What are the triggers for work stress?

Stress at work is resulting in more German employees than ever before stopping work before they reach retirement age, a new study shows. So what are the main triggers to watch out for?

Published: 11 August 2014 15:40 CEST

What are the triggers for work stress?

Photo: DPA

Every year hundreds of thousands of employees in Germany take early retirement as a result of work-related stress. Burnout, depression and anxiety are the most common reasons for stopping work ahead of time, a new study shows.

The study by the German Pension Insurance Union (DGB) showed that last year 66,441 employees took early retirement, 732 more than the previous year and over 19,000 more than in 2005.

"What's especially dramatic about this is the average age of those affected," said Susanne Weinbrenner, responsible for social medicine at DGB.

Those leaving work early due to psychological problems are on average around 49, she said. Those taking early retirement because of other physical illnesses are around 53 to 56 years old.

"There are many causes," said DGB social policy expert Ingo Nürnberger. "But working hours, working conditions and the behaviour of management in businesses are central."

Stress is also caused by pressure to constantly be in touch with colleagues, as well as job insecurity. Changes to modern working conditions, including commuting long distances, long hours and working from home are also to blame for the increase in early retirement.

"The subject of employment protection is taking on a completely new meaning," said Nürnberger and called on the government to push through its proposed anti-stress law as soon as possible. "Companies must be monitored more closely and receive better advice."

Those affected by workplace stress must be able to feel they can seek help earlier and find it quicker, said Norbert Breutmann, employment researcher at the Federal Society of German Employer Associations.

"We lose a lot of people who would otherwise be fit for work who we need as employees because they do not get treatment or they get it too late," said Breutmann. "Often it's years before the trouble is noticed."

SEE ALSO: Labour minister calls for 'anti-stress law'

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Which Bavaria-based companies regularly hire English speakers?

Munich ranks third in German cities with the highest total GDP, behind Berlin and Hamburg, but in terms of GDP per capita, it’s higher than both of them.

It also consistently ranks high, often highest, in terms of average household income.

As of 2023, nine of the 40 companies listed on DAX, Germany’s stock index, were based in Bavaria. Seven of those are based specifically in Munich.

While Frankfurt is commonly known to be Germany’s business capital, Munich can claim the title of Germany’s insurance capital, which is saying something, as Germany is home to some of the largest insurance firms in the world, like Allianz.

Beyond the state’s capital city, a number of international companies are based elsewhere in Bavaria, particularly in the Franken region, near Nuremberg.

Which companies actively hire English speakers?

Bavaria, and Munich in particular, is home to a number of companies at the forefront of international business. But the state is known for its traditional, sometimes conservative, culture, which affects its business culture as well.

Whereas companies embracing English as their primary business language are easy to find in Berlin, the practice is less common in the south. That said, there are some notable exceptions.

Sportswear giants, Adidas and Puma, both have their headquarters near Nuremberg in Herzogenaurach, and regularly recruit English speaking international talent.

“As an international company, our teams reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities,” Jon Greenhalgh, Senior Manager Media Relations for Adidas told The Local. “Fostering a culture of inclusion where we value and leverage differences, ensures that we can authentically engage with our employees and truly connect with our consumers.”

He added that around 40 per cent of Adidas’ Germany-based employees are foreign nationals, from over 100 different countries.

Siemens and BMW rank among Bavaria’s top employers, and are also known to hire their fair share of foreigners.

“In Germany, we recently had around 2,000 open positions,” Konstanze Somborn told The Local on behalf of Siemens AG.

He added that Siemens operates in 190 countries. “That is why we value international teams very much…English as a common language is very usual.”

READ ALSO: ‘Which German companies want to hire foreigners?’

Similarly, BMW hires workers from a variety of backgrounds.

“Every year, we hire lots of internationals and welcome them to the BMW Group,” Dr. Hans-Peter Ketterl, a press spokesman for BMW Group told The Local.

But not all of these positions are available to non-German speakers.

Ketterl added that BMW’s working language is German in the country, even though, “English is an indispensable entry requirement as the second corporate language in many areas of the company.”

Check job boards and follow best practices

If it’s your first time applying for jobs in Germany, make sure to change your resume to the German format, even for English positions.

While Germany is home to its own job boards, like Xing, LinkedIn is probably the best place to start. In addition to searching for positions based in your preferred location, you can check relevant groups, like Munich Startups, to broaden your horizons.

The English Jobs in Germany website is also a good resource to start with.

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