Survey reveals surge in burnout and suicidal thoughts among ECB staff – POLITICO

Beyond launching workshops to encourage colleagues to identify and react to inappropriate behavior, the ECB launched a task force with staff representatives reviewing the disciplinary framework and its internal reporting and investigations processes. So far this has not resulted in any concrete measures, Bowles said.

After learning of the staff committee’s survey results on May 16, CSO Myriam Moufakkir and HR chief Eva Murciano reached out to staff to assure them they take “the results very seriously.”

However, staff members’ skepticism has only increased since the executive board postponed a meeting with the staff committee at the last minute the evening before it was due to take place on May 28, claiming they needed to reschedule to allow for a longer meeting.

“What message does HR and the president send with the cancellation? It’s not that bad? Who cares?” one staff member wrote on the anonymous ECB staff union chat on the issues. The meeting eventually took place on June 25.

ECB is taking measures

On the evening of June 25, Moufakkir sent out an email to all staff listing a slew of measures aimed at addressing concerns. This included recommendations to revise the processes the Bank uses to report and investigate inappropriate behavior and to ensure they are robust and timely. It also recommended efforts to boost job mobility and learning experiences.

According to the mail, the ECB’s human resources department is planning to initiate focus groups to identify possible solutions to address excessive workload, with aims to expand training for managers and strengthen feedback capabilities and tools.

“We take the health and well-being of our staff very seriously, and we will continue to engage with the staff committee and all our colleagues on these topics and their root causes. We have put measures in place to respond to issues which had been identified previously and more measures to address issues such as workload and career opportunities are planned,” an ECB spokesperson told POLITICO.

She added that the ECB provides services to support mental and physical health and stressed there is no institutional tolerance of inappropriate behaviour. “Our 2024 pulse survey shows that 85 percent of respondents are proud to work for the ECB and 90 percent believe in the mission and purpose of the ECB, and we will work to sustain that support,” she said.

The ECB did not address questions on whether it is concerned that current levels of burnout may harm the Bank’s ability to perform its duties in the best possible way.