Heavy lifting, carrying, or pushing; working in awkward postures; and working under high time pressure or with constant interruptions: The daily work routine of many industrial workers is still characterized by physical strain and increasing stress—just how much is shown by a recent analysis of the DGB Good Work Index.
The analysis is based on representative employee surveys conducted from 2023 to 2025. Four occupational groups in the metal and electrical industries were examined. The analysis focused on five stress factors that are particularly relevant to health-conscious work design: physically demanding work, awkward postures, noise, frequent disruptions and interruptions, and time pressure.
Physical Strain Remains High
The results of the analysis clearly show that physical stressors continue to characterize the work of many employees in the metal and electrical industries today. At the same time, it is evident that stressors rarely occur in isolation. Rather, working conditions for many employees are characterized by multiple stressors of both a physical and psychological nature. In the four production occupations, 68 percent of respondents are exposed to at least two of the five stress factors examined while on the job. Physical demands occur particularly frequently in conjunction with time pressure.
IG Metall’s Social Affairs Director, Ralf Reinstädtler, says: “Anyone who fears for their job, works under time pressure every day, is constantly interrupted, and performs physically demanding work runs the risk of becoming ill. This is not a sign of individual weakness, but rather the result of working conditions that push many people to their physical and mental limits.”
The consequences are significant: The figures show that the more stressors reported, the more pessimistically those affected assess their future ability to work. Specifically: 78 percent of all respondents with only one stressor expect to be able to continue working until retirement. Among those with five stressors, only 18 percent expect to be able to keep working until retirement.
Working Despite Illness
Furthermore, the analysis shows that employees under significant stress are more likely to work despite being sick. About half of the employees in each of the four occupational groups reported having worked while sick. The trend is clear: as the number of stressors increases, so does the likelihood of going to work while sick.
Working while sick—known in technical terms as “presenteeism”—carries significant risks for those affected: illnesses can be prolonged, and health can deteriorate. At the same time, risks arise for companies and their workforces: presenteeism increases the risk of errors and accidents at work. In the case of contagious diseases, it can lead to more frequent and longer periods of sick leave among the workforce.
For Ralf Reinstädler, one thing is clear: “Instead of placing employees under general suspicion, we must finally address the causes of sick leave. The responsibility lies not with the employees, but with the employers. Companies are failing to adequately fulfill their legal obligation to protect employees’ health.”
Working Conditions Under Scrutiny
The documented stressors are widespread across all four occupational groups examined. However, they manifest in different ways.
Unfavorable postures occur particularly frequently. 58 percent of workers in the mechanical and automotive engineering occupational group and 54 percent of those in the metal production and processing group must adopt an unfavorable posture very frequently or often while performing their work.
Noise and loud ambient sounds characterize work primarily in the metal production and processing occupational group (68 percent of respondents in this group report experiencing this “very frequently” or “often”) and in the mechanical and automotive engineering group, where the figure is 63 percent overall.
Work-related stress caused by disruptions and interruptions occurs most frequently in the technical development, design, and production control group (68 percent of respondents report this as “very frequently” or “often”). In mechanical and automotive engineering occupations, 56 percent report disruptions and interruptions at work.
Mental strain caused by working under time pressure is a (very) frequent occurrence for half of the employees in the technical development occupational group. In the mechanical and automotive engineering sector, 46 percent report time pressure, while in the metal production group, 34 percent do.
“The greater the stress, the greater the risk of long-term illnesses, which result in an above-average number of sick days. To change this, working conditions, corporate cultures, and strategic shortcomings must be scrutinized in every company,” emphasizes Reinstädtler.
