Psychosocial working environment: the four risk areas
Time pressure, unclear demands, emotional demands and offensive behaviour — and violence
Introduction
The rules on the psychosocial working environment are in BEK nr. 605/2026, which entered into force on 1 July 2026. The psychosocial working environment is the influences that come from the planning and organisation of the work, the content of the work, the way it is carried out and the social relations (§ 7).
The four risk areas
| Risk area | An example from a workplace |
|---|---|
| High workload and time pressure | The tasks must be done in a time that is not realistic |
| Unclear and conflicting demands | Two managers give different instructions for the same task |
| High emotional demands in work with people | You work in a home with a resident who is ill or feels unsafe |
| Offensive behaviour | A colleague is made fun of again and again |
The examples are our own and are meant to show what the areas are about. In addition, the executive order has special rules on work-related violence (§§ 25-34).
What is offensive behaviour?
It is bullying, sexual harassment or other degrading behaviour that is serious or happens repeatedly (§ 23). Normal management and feedback from colleagues are not offensive in themselves (§ 23, stk. 2).
Violence
The rules cover violence from people outside the company, e.g. customers and members of the public. It can be physical violence, but also threats and harassment (§ 25). If you work alone and that creates a particular risk of violence, the risk must be countered. Otherwise you must not work alone (§ 29).