Strains in the psychosocial work environment represent major challenges in both Danish and European occupational contexts, leading to sickness absence and a poor work environment in general. In Denmark occupational diseases are registered both in The National Board of Industrial Injuries (NBII) and in the Danish Working Environment Authority (WEA), thus serving two functions; to examine whether the employee is entitled to recognition and compensation, and to inform the WEA about problems in the work environment.
The study applies a mixed-method approach, based on 11 interviews and questionnaire data from 433 employees with a notified work-related mental disorder in NBII, 7 interviews with employees with a work-related mental disorder who chose not notify, 9 group interviews with healthcare professionals from all Occupational and Environmental Medicine Departments in Denmark, and official documents, including a State auditing office report on WEA’s psychosocial work environment inspections.
Results indicate that employees’ motivation in notifying a work-related mental disorder, mainly represents a wish to initiate primary prevention at the work place, and the notification is often encouraged by health care professionals involved. However, the employees rarely experience inspection from the WEA and often no workplace intervention takes place. Thus they feel that their comprehensive effort, including time and mental resources are wasted. Further, the study identifies a gap between the definition of work related mental health disorder by the healthcare systems respectively by the NBII,
Overall this leave the question whether work-related mental health disorders fit into the Danish Workers compensation System?