Work-related stress is not just an employee problem. So why Do we keep treating it like one?

During the Week Zonder Werkstress (week without workstress), organisations across the Netherlands are putting additional attention on employee wellbeing. This year's theme, Kleine moeite, groot effect (small change, big impact), reminds us that even small changes can make a difference.

But it also raises an important question: are we doing enough to address the causes of work-related stress, or are we primarily teaching employees how to cope with it?

Looking beyond the individual

When discussing work-related stress, we often focus on what employees can do differently. Take more breaks, exercise regularly, set boundaries and recognise the early signs of stress.

All valuable advice. But what happens when an employee returns from a stress management workshop to the same unrealistic deadlines, unclear responsibilities or excessive workload? The problem hasn't necessarily changed.

Stress is not always caused by work. Personal circumstances, financial pressures, caring for family members and major life events can all play a role. Often, several factors influence one another. This is precisely why understanding the circumstances surrounding employees matters.

At Cohesie, we believe effective prevention requires looking beyond individual symptoms and understanding the wider working environment.

What is your organisation telling you?

Large organisations have access to valuable information about their workforce, yet opportunities to use that information are often missed. Imagine two departments within the same organisation. Both operate under similar business conditions, yet one consistently experiences higher levels of stress-related absence. What explains the difference? Could workload, leadership practices, team dynamics or organisational changes be contributing factors?

By combining appropriately aggregated absenteeism data with occupational health expertise, we can help organisations identify patterns that deserve further attention. The purpose is not to identify individual employees or assign blame. It is to understand where challenges may exist and determine what can be done about them.

Sometimes the solution may involve improving working conditions or supporting managers. In other situations, employees may benefit from easier access to psychological support, coaching or other preventive services. The important thing is to respond to the actual needs of the organisation rather than assuming one intervention will work for everyone.

Prevention requires more than a wellbeing programme

Many employers already invest in employee assistance programmes, mental health initiatives and wellbeing benefits. But providing these services is only part of the solution. Do employees know what support is available? Do managers recognise when someone might need help? And is HR able to identify recurring challenges before they develop into more serious problems?

At Cohesie, we connect these different perspectives. Our occupational health professionals support employees and managers with individual challenges. At a tactical level, we help HR and management identify recurring patterns and opportunities for improvement. Strategically, we work with organisations to translate workforce insights into more effective prevention and wellbeing strategies.

Through the wider Colbe network, we can also connect organisations with specialist expertise and interventions where appropriate. This allows us to move beyond responding to stress-related absence and focus on addressing the factors that may contribute to it.

What happens after this week?

The Week Zonder Werkstress (week without workstress) is an important opportunity to start conversations about mental wellbeing and working conditions. But the real measure of success is what happens when the week is over. Are managers better equipped to recognise and address concerns? Have organisations identified where employees need additional support? And are those insights leading to meaningful changes?

Small actions can make a difference. But lasting improvements require organisations to understand the bigger picture.

This week, we challenge employers to look beyond what their employees can do to manage stress and ask what their organisation can do to reduce it.

At Cohesie, we help organisations turn that question into practical action. Want to understand where your organisation can make a difference? Let's start the conversation.