Stress and work overload are increasingly contributing to employees’ health problems, with doctors warning that mental disorders are becoming one of the leading reasons for sick leave. In 2024, the number of medical certificates issued for mental and behavioral disorders in Poland rose by nearly 14% year-on-year.
“The main causes of sick leave related to psychiatric or psychological conditions are strong stress reactions, followed by depressive disorders and anxiety disorders,” said Mariusz Gawrych, family medicine specialist at the Department of Prevention and Rehabilitation of Poland’s Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).
Sick Leave Data Rising Sharply
In 2024, 27.4 million sick leave certificates were issued in Poland, accounting for 290 million days of absence. Of these, 1.6 million leaves and 30.3 million days were linked to mental and behavioral disorders, representing 12.6% of the total — a rise of almost 14% compared with 2023.
According to the Safe at Work Coalition report “Work Safety in Poland 2025: Mobbing, Depression, Stress 2.0 – Workplace Risks in Polish Companies”, both employees and managers reported higher stress levels in 2025 compared to the last survey in 2019. Today, 52% of managers and 46% of employees say they experience stress daily or in many situations, up from 46% and 42% respectively in 2019.
In Poland, the most common stressors include excessive workload and task overload (34%), time pressure and lack of sufficient time to complete tasks (31%), professional responsibility and fear of causing harm or loss (27%), emergency or crisis situations (27%), and inadequate pay (26%).
Health Impacts of Workplace Stress
“Experiencing strong stress, such as job loss or workplace mobbing, can negatively impact health. Symptoms like anxiety, low mood, or loss of motivation can lead to temporary leave and the need for further diagnostic evaluation,” said Gawrych.
The report, citing the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, stresses that alongside traditional risks, psychosocial factors are among the most frequently reported workplace hazards in the EU. In Poland, 67% of employees said they had been treated inappropriately by a superior, 22% reported repeated occurrences, 55% had experienced verbal abuse, and 14% physical abuse — all slightly higher than in 2019.
Half of employees who encountered psychosocial risks admitted that these experiences affected them, most commonly through reduced motivation, loss of trust, lower wellbeing, or diminished self-esteem. Nearly 38% reported deteriorating mental health, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, or burnout.
These issues often manifest as physical symptoms. “It is not always easy to diagnose psychosomatic causes. Patients may present with headaches or tension without realizing stress is the root cause. Deeper interviews often reveal the impact of psychosocial factors, and in such cases psychiatric or psychological support may be necessary,” explained Gawrych.
Impact on Work Performance
According to employees, the strongest factors affecting productivity are workplace atmosphere (47%), stress (43%), workload and overwork (40%), relations with supervisors (37%), and fatigue (34%). Private problems also weigh more heavily on work efficiency now than in 2019 (23% vs. 17%). The blurring of boundaries between private and professional life — fueled by constant online availability and after-hours responsiveness — has worsened exhaustion and health risks.
“It is important not only to seek help from professionals but also to promote anti-mobbing policies and workplace cultures that prioritize employee wellbeing. Companies that support their staff report fewer absences and lower rates of chronic illness,” said the ZUS expert.
Lack of Preventive Measures
The Safe at Work 2025 report found that only 29% of employees (and 37% of managers) said their company takes steps to address mobbing, discrimination, violence, stress, and other psychosocial risks. Even fewer pointed to concrete initiatives such as training, anti-mobbing procedures, reporting channels, or mediation. Only 28% said their employer or supervisor had discussed psychosocial risks with them (down from 37% in 2019). Experts note that in a time of growing awareness around mental health, workers expect proactive measures from employers.
“Sometimes patients can no longer continue working in a given environment, which further affects their mental health, leading them to resign. Studies show that exposure to psychosocial risks drives higher employee turnover. Many companies recognize this and are investing in soft skills training, which helps reduce workplace risks. Firms that prioritize employee wellbeing face lower turnover and fewer sick leaves,” Gawrych noted.
Long and Costly Absences
Although mental health issues are not yet the top cause of sick leave in Poland, they generate significant costs because absences tend to be longer — averaging 18.9 days. In 2024, stress reactions and adjustment disorders accounted for 10.7 million sick days, depressive episodes for 5.8 million, and anxiety disorders for 5.7 million. Altogether, sick leave in 2024 cost over PLN 31 billion.
