Heavy workloads – time for recovery is essential

Periods of heavy workload do not usually lead to serious health problems if they are followed by quieter periods when there is time to recover. It is when heavy workloads last for a long time that the risk of serious health problems can occur. It is the shared responsibility of the manager and the individual member of staff to have a continuous dialogue about the work situation.

Advice to managers and staff

For managers, think about the following:

Maintain a regular dialogue with your staff so you have an idea of how much they are working.
Redistribute/re-prioritise tasks during periods of heavy workload.
When there is a lot of work to be done, can the work be organised differently to ensure and maintain a reasonable workload?
Create a routine/policy for accessibility together with your staff.
Use the annual staff development dialogues to review the past year and discuss upcoming challenges.

As a member of staff, think about the following:

Have a regular dialogue with your boss about your workload/work situation.
Set boundaries for work so that you have balance between work and private life.
Recovery is essential during periods of heavy workload. If your workload does not decrease, you need to discuss the matter with your manager.
Take breaks at regular intervals during the working day.
Take a break from work in evenings, at weekends and when on holiday.

You can find more tips about heavy workloads and overtime here.