During the 2000s, the number of sick leave due to mental illness increased sharply in Sweden. In an attempt to stop the negative development, the Swedish Work Environment Authority introduced the regulations on organizational and social work environment (OSA) in 2016. The OSA regulations primarily cover three areas: workload, working hours and degrading treatment. However, despite efforts, sick leave rates for diagnoses such as stress, anxiety and depression have continued to increase.

– I believe that they often conduct thorough investigations with employee questionnaires and so on. However, there is usually not as much work done when it comes to addressing deficiencies, says Pelle Andersson, ombudsman for Seko seafarers.

I believe that they often conduct thorough investigations with employee questionnaires and so on. However, there is usually not as much work done when it comes to addressing deficiencies.

The ability to influence one’s own work is something that, according to research, is important for increasing job satisfaction. Being able to prioritize among work tasks when stress increases is also important for well-being and well-being.

– In many cases, you need to think about how to plan your work and have a plan for how to prioritize when there is a lot to do. People like to have control over their own work, it’s about freedom under responsibility. We have come some way there, but there is more to do, says Pelle Andersson and continues:

– In other cases, you are simply too short on people and then you need to staff up, either permanently or temporarily. Another way is to train people at other workplaces on board so that they can help if needed, says Pelle Andersson.

The regulations on organizational and social work came into force in 2016 for workplaces ashore, but they began to apply in 2019 in shipping.