German employees coping with workplace stress better than most (2023)

The coronavirus crisis left a lot of people around the world feeling stressed, and people are still continuing to feel its effects. However, a recent poll has revealed that Germans are coping with stress somewhat better than people from other industrialised nations.

Germans coping better in coronavirus aftermath

A recent survey by American research institute Gallup has revealed that 40 percent of people working in Germany have been feeling stressed recently. For the “State of the Global Workplace 2022” report, more than 105.000 employees from 146 different countries were asked about their working life. The survey found that 40 percent of employees in Germany felt stressed the day before they took the poll.

Despite the seemingly high rate of stress in Germany, employees around the world have generally recorded higher levels. In the US, for example, stress levels are at 52 percent. The worldwide stress level averages a record 44 percent, while the average for the seven largest industrial nations is 46 percent. However, when compared to Europe (39 percent), Germany is largely concurrent.

According to Gallup expert Marco Nink, Germany’s healthcare system and strong social security are part of why employees in the federal republic feel less stressed than their counterparts in other countries. "In Germany, we benefit from a combination of extensive job security through the instrument of short-time work and a stable social and health system," he explained. Employees'ability to work from home also played a big part in keeping stress levels down.

Employees becoming disillusioned with bosses

The report also shined a light on another workplace phenomenon: employees are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with their employers, something which has come to be known worldwide as the “Great Resignation”.

This is particularly prominent in Europe, with almost half of local employees keeping an eye on vacancies, although not actively looking for a new job. On average, 44 percent of European employees believe that now is the right time to look for a new job, 16 percent more than last year. In Germany, this figure is at 53 percent and only 16 percent of employees state that they have a strong bond with their company due to leadership.

However, only about 10 percent of people are willing to move for a new job. "The consequences of the changes in working life caused by the corona pandemic are particularly evident here," says Marco Nink. “Employees have learned over the past two years that work does not necessarily require being in a specific place. They are therefore less willing than ever to accept personal sacrifices for a new job - and the dynamic job market, which has a shortage of skilled workers and offers many new opportunities, confirms their view.”