ABSTRACT
"Dynamic", "complexity", and "diversity" are terms that best describe the challenges in the workplace resulting from the changing nature of work. These changes should conform to the criteria of human-related work design. However, the number of pensions for reduced earning capacity and the number of unfit for work days caused by psychic disorders are rising. Affective disorders, including depression, are the largest group. Depression represents a long-term consequence of work demands. Empirical results confirm a significant relationship between depression and the objective existing as well as the subjective perceived workload conditions. Burn-out as a further long-term consequence depends inter alia on the design of the physical work demands, the environmental conditions, the psychosocial conditions, and the transparency of the decision and information processes in a company. Additionally, empirical results show that the short-term consequences of work demands, i.e., fatigue, satiation, and monotony correlate with the burn-out components of exhaustion and alienation from work. Furthermore, using restructuring as an example, it is demonstrated that the changes in work that accompany modifications in the working world also have other health-related consequences.
