Employees at small companies have fewer health problems

Over the past five years, the number of employees with physical or psychological complaints rose sharply. Physical problems (including pain in the neck, shoulders, and back) increased by 22%, and psychological complaints (including stress) by as much as 80%.

This increase is also noticeable among small businesses, but the figures are significantly lower. About a fifth of employees there (21.2%) reported physical problems in 2023, compared to 25.5% at large companies. Also, 4.8% of employees in small companies reported experiencing psychological complaints, compared to 7.9% in larger players.

According to Gerrit Pollentier, ergonomics expert at Mensura, it is precisely the small scale of small companies that plays an important role in their lower absenteeism rates. After all, if you want to invest in preventive measures or ergonomic adaptations, it is easier to budget for ten employees than for several thousands.

Moreover, absenteeism has a much more far-reaching effect on a smaller team than in a large department. Gerrit: “Do you work in a team of 10 people and fall ill for a long time? Then your absence is a much more pressing problem for your colleagues than if your team has 200 people. That obviously raises the threshold for calling in sick.”

And the significant gap in psychological health complaints? Employees in small businesses reported 64% fewer psychological health problems in 2023. Marie Lamoral, psychosocial prevention adviser at Mensura, points out the important role of direct human contact. Employees at small companies do not necessarily have less stress, but they do have more opportunities to prevent and relieve stress.

“Work stress often stems from poor internal communication and the way the company vision and culture are shared,” Marie says. “In small companies, communication is more direct and there is less distance between the manager and employees. So your supervisor is more approachable.”

However, the number of reports of psychological complaints continues to rise sharply, both in large and small companies. “In recent years, psychological well-being has – rightly – received more attention,” Gerrit explains. “Attention from the media, legislators, employers… and therefore also in the workplace. So there are not necessarily fewer psychological complaints than before, but people may report them more.”

The survey results highlight the importance of company size for the overall well-being of employees. Small companies provide an environment where physical and psychological health problems are less common, thanks to better preventive measures and a closer, more communicative work culture.