Psych Risk Assessment for SMEs

Does a small or mid-sized business (SME) have to conduct a risk assessment for psychological workload?

Note: this applies to German law. Yes — all employers must assess psychological workload (ArbSchG Sec. 5(3) No. 6, since 2013). SMEs can use simplified methods: IMPULS test, BKK Kurzcheck Psyche, or a short survey. No minimum company size.

Under German law, the duty has applied since 2013 — no exception for SMEs

Since the 2013 amendment to the German Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG), psychological workload has been explicitly enshrined as a mandatory part of the workplace risk assessment (Sec. 5(3) No. 6). This applies to every employer under German law — from a 3-person craft business to a large corporation.

"Psychological workload" in the legal sense does not mean psychiatric diagnoses or personal problems. It refers to work-related factors: time pressure, interruptions, unclear responsibilities, lack of decision-making latitude, poor leadership. These factors are measurable and manageable.

German labor inspectorates have systematically audited this psychological risk assessment since 2015 — and impose fines (ArbSchG Sec. 25) and formal orders when the assessment is missing or exists only on paper. A filled-out form with no discernible data-collection method counts as incomplete.

What must be assessed?

Work intensity and volume: time pressure, overtime, multitasking, frequency of interruptions
Decision-making latitude: Can employees shape their own workflows, choose break times, set priorities?
Social relationships: leadership behavior, collegiality, frequency of conflict, social support
Work environment: noise, lighting, climate, home-office ergonomics
Work organization: shift work, on-call duty, unclear responsibilities
Information flow: Are employees adequately informed, do they have clear goals?

Simplified methods for SMEs

A psychological risk assessment doesn't have to be expensive. Germany's Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) recommends three practical approaches for SMEs:

The IMPULS test (free, TU Dresden) is a validated 13-question survey that employees can complete in 10 minutes. It measures the six most important psychological workload factors and delivers immediately usable results. For companies with 10–100 employees, this is the most efficient starting point.

The BKK Kurzcheck Psyche (free, offered via Germany's statutory health insurance system, GKV) runs as an anonymized employee survey and is supported free of charge by many health insurers — including evaluation and recommended actions. The company physician or occupational safety specialist can facilitate the survey.

The workshop method works well for teams under 20 people: a facilitated 90-minute discussion identifies the three biggest workload factors directly. Documentation = a photo of the flipchart plus minutes. Recognized as a valid method by German labor inspectorates.

What happens next — the PDCA cycle

A psychological risk assessment is not a one-off document but a recurring process. After the assessment, measures must be derived, implemented, and checked for effectiveness (ArbSchG Sec. 3(1) — the PDCA cycle).

Typical measures from SME psychological risk assessment processes: documenting clearer task allocation, formalizing an overtime policy in writing, briefing managers on healthy leadership, and anchoring break times in team routines.

Recommended: an annual repeat (or after major changes such as restructuring or a change of location). The first assessment serves as a baseline — it doesn't need to be perfect, but it must be methodically traceable.

Related measures & topics

Key takeaways

Note: this applies to German law. The psychological risk assessment has been mandatory since 2013 — no exception for SMEs or office-based businesses
Free methods (IMPULS test, BKK Kurzcheck) are sufficient for most SMEs
Assessment ≠ psychiatric diagnosis — it's about working conditions, not personality
After the assessment: derive measures, implement them, check their effectiveness (PDCA)
Annual repetition recommended — the first assessment serves as a baseline

Frequently asked questions

Does the legal duty to conduct a psychological risk assessment also apply to purely office-based businesses with no physical hazards?+

Yes. Under German law, ArbSchG Sec. 5(3) No. 6 applies regardless of industry. Office work with high work intensity, constant availability, and little decision-making latitude can, in particular, create significant psychological workload. Many German labor inspectorates specifically target office-based businesses.

How expensive is an externally run psychological risk assessment for an SME with 30 employees?+

With free methods (IMPULS test, BKK offer), only internal time costs arise — roughly 4–8 hours for planning, execution, and documentation. External consultants cost 800–3,000 euros but are not necessary for most SMEs. A company physician or safety specialist can lead the facilitation.

What happens if a labor inspectorate audits and the psychological risk assessment is missing?+

Under German law, the authority can first order that the deficiency be remedied, with a deadline. Non-compliance or repeated violations can lead to fines under ArbSchG Sec. 25 (up to 5,000 euros per violation). Severe cases involving harm to health can carry criminal-law relevance.

Build the psych risk assessment into a system

EasyBGM guides you through the psychological risk assessment — with templates, checklists, and automatic documentation.

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Sources

Last updated: 2026-06-24. Not legal or tax advice — have your specific case reviewed by a professional.

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