Complaints of 'Workplace Bullying' Increase While 'Job Stress' Counseling Decreases

Geunro Bokji Gong Announces Consultation Results for Companies with Fewer Than 300 Employees

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been found that consultations regarding workplace harassment have increased among workers who primarily sought job stress counseling over the past decade.

The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service announced on the 22nd the performance results of the 'Corporate Stress Management Program,' an Employee Assistance Program (EPA) operated for workplaces with 100 to less than 300 employees.

The Service provides EAP services such as online and offline psychological counseling, coaching, and education through the Workers' Welfare Net to small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 300 employees and their members every year. Individuals who register as members of the Workers' Welfare Net can receive expert counseling and education up to 7 times per year, and companies up to 3 times per year.

The Service explained that workers in small and medium-sized enterprises are more vulnerable to mental health issues such as stress and insomnia compared to those in large corporations. Last year, seven small and medium-sized enterprises applied healing programs including mental health diagnosis and psychological counseling services to all employees, which reportedly helped reduce stress and insomnia.

Source: Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service

Looking at the specific performance by counseling category, from 2009 to 2019, out of a total of 84,751 cases, 30,531 cases (36%) were related to job stress counseling, but last year, out of 11,261 cases, only 2,475 cases (22%) were related to job stress, showing a decrease in proportion. On the other hand, workplace harassment cases surged from 353 cases (0.4% of total) between 2009 and 2019 to 1,318 cases (11.7%) last year alone.

Kang Soonhee, Director of the Service, said, "To help overcome difficulties caused by COVID-19 and job-related stress, we will continuously develop and expand support programs so that small and medium-sized enterprises and workers can access more programs more easily."

For detailed information regarding EAP, including individual counseling applications, please contact the Workers' Welfare Net or the entrusted institution, Easy & Wellness.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.