The Trap of Perfectionism Affects Millions
Stress is prevalent in the workplace, with numerous and individual causes. A new survey by KKH has now revealed the biggest stressors. Above all, personal perfectionism leads to massive pressure.
There are people who are proud to work at or even beyond their limits to complete everything as perfectly as possible. They face immense pressure, but they suffer less from job conditions, the sheer amount of work, or conflicts with their boss, and more from their own high expectations - KKH, the commercial health insurance company, refers to this as the "perfectionism trap".
According to a new Forsa survey commissioned by the health insurance company, 43% of working people often feel significantly under pressure - every seventh person even very often, as KKH in Hannover reported. Another 43% feel stressed at work occasionally. The reasons are clear: around two-thirds (65%) of respondents feel pressured by their own expectations to perform their work optimally. At the same time, the number of sick days due to stress-related mental illnesses is increasing nationwide among KKH policyholders.
For the study, the market research institute Forsa surveyed 1001 working people aged 18 to 70 years representative nationwide from 1 to 8 July on behalf of KKH. With around 1.6 million policyholders, KKH is one of the largest nationwide health insurers.
Perfectionism and time pressure are the biggest stressors
Almost as great a stressor as personal perfectionism is time pressure in daily work (62%), which is clearly ahead of the expectations of others (40%). Around a third of working people feel stressed by too many overtime hours (36%) or high performance demands (32%). Difficulties in balancing work and private life (27%) or a low salary (23%) each affect about a quarter of people. Bad team atmosphere and bullying (21%) or control by superiors (19%) also cause stress.
"Our survey shows that stress is perceived very individually and strongly influenced by one's own attitude," said KKH's occupational psychologist Antje Judick. "At first glance, this is good news because it can be addressed. In a performance society, stress is often seen as a status symbol, and perfectionism as a sign of performance ability. Moreover, constant availability, for example via smartphone, and blurred boundaries between work and private life have become established as a matter of course."
According to the survey, nearly every fourth working person (28%) has already taken time off due to pressure and stress at work. Nationwide data on work absenteeism among KKH policyholders shows that the number of sick days due to stress-related mental problems is increasing - including acute stress reactions and adjustment disorders: In the first half of 2024, there were 109 sick days per 100 fully insured KKH customers - compared to 105 in the previous year. In 2019, there were only 75 sick days per 100 employed people.
In a five-year comparison, the health insurance provider recorded an increase in depressive episodes from 89 to 102 days per 100 insured individuals. Burnout, typically diagnosed at the onset of a stress-related illness or as part of further mental health issues, stood at 11 days per 100 employed individuals last year, and 10 days in the first half of 2024. In 2019, it was 8 days. The so-called burnout is seen as a creeping process, and if not addressed, it can set off a downward spiral, according to the insurance provider.
According to statistics from the Federal Statistical Office, overtime is only part of the daily work routine for a minority of German employees. Around one in eight worked more than agreed in their contract last year. This amounts to 4.6 million people, or 12 percent of the approximately 39.3 million employees.
For 40 percent of those who work overtime, it amounts to no more than five hours per week. However, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) reported working more than 15 overtime hours per week. Moreover, around 20 percent, or more than 900,000 people, reported working unpaid overtime.
Fear of war and crises is another significant stress factor for the majority of the German population. According to a March survey by Swiss Life, these fears surpass personal concerns such as financial worries or illnesses. The increase in natural disasters in recent years also causes concern for a significant portion of the population, contributing to stress.
Working women, according to a Forsa survey commissioned by KKH, struggle with stress the most - 20 percent of women surveyed felt very stressed frequently, compared to 11 percent of men. Psychologist Judick explained that the expectation to excel in both motherhood and career puts many women under immense pressure.
The Greens have therefore advocated for the right to work from home. "Home office is particularly important for women to balance family and career," said Green Party labor market politician Beate Müller-Gemmeke to the Tagesspiegel. The coalition agreement stipulates that employees will have a right to work from home in the future, but this has not yet been implemented.
According to health insurance providers, sick days due to mental health issues have increased significantly since 2017 and reached a record high last year. While there were 298 sick days per 100 full-year insured employees at the start of the evaluation in 2017, this number has since risen to 388 days.
Individuals who strive for perfection in their work often find themselves in a "perfectionism trap," experiencing intense pressure due to their own high expectations, as highlighted by KKH's study. Additionally, time pressure in daily tasks serves as another significant stressor, affecting approximately 62% of working individuals, according to the survey.
