The boss, not the workload, causes workplace depression

The old axiom, “people don’t quit jobs, they quit bosses”, is one that’s often heard.

It’s not just anecdotal, though. There seems to be some solid science to back it up.

A Danish study indicates that a heavy workload has no effect on whether or not employees become depressed. Instead, it is the work environment and the feeling of being treated unfairly by the management that has the greatest effect on an employee’s mood.

”We may have a tendency to associate depression and stress with work pressure and workload; however, our study shows that the workload actually has no effect on workplace depression,” says one of the researchers behind the new study, psychologist Matias Brødsgaard Grynderup, PhD, of the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University.

”This suggests that the risk of workplace depression cannot be minimised by changing the workload. Other factors are involved, and it is these factors that we should focus on in the future.”

Preventing employee depression and company turnover

The findings can be used as a guide for future focus areas when stress and depression become a part of the workplace. The study suggests that looking at the employees’ own assessment of the work environment and possible changes to the work environment has a much better preventive effect on depression than reducing the workload.

”When the employees’ sense of justice plays such a central role in minimising the risk of depression, this is probably the area that the preventive work should focus on,” says Grynderup.

“I recommend a management style in which there is a clearly expressed wish to treat employees properly – combined with a transparent organisational structure.”

Biggest takeaway? In order to maintain a happy and healthy workplace, and reduce employee dissatisfaction and turnover, make management training a priority.