The inclusion of psychosocial risks in NR-1 highlights an urgent need: caring for teams necessarily involves caring for leaders.
By Ana Claudia Moro
On August 27, 2024, the Ministry of Labor and Employment approved Ordinance MTE No. 1,419, amending Chapter "1.5 Occupational Risk Management" of Regulatory Standard No. 1 (NR-1) – General Provisions and Occupational Risk Management, to include the management of risk factors. psychosocial risks, an obligation that will take effect for the purposes of inspection and sanctions, starting on May 25, 2026.
The Ministry of Labor itself released a Information guide on Psychosocial Risk Factors Work-related (year 2025), in which it describes:
The inclusion of psychosocial risks, in addition to the usual physical or biological risks, requires companies to adjust their occupational health and safety programs to adopt a proactive stance in evaluating and implementing an organizational culture that effectively cares for people, promoting a healthy work environment.
There are numerous solutions offered on the market to manage these risks, as well as publications addressing the association between leadership practices and mental health and quality of life at work. In short, better-prepared leaders prevent and reduce depressive symptoms, improve the organizational climate, and promote talent retention. It's worth noting that the inclusion of psychosocial risks in organizational risk management should not be seen merely as a cost, but as an essential investment.
There is much focus on the role of leadership in building a healthy work environment, and, without a doubt, the constant training of leaders is one of the measures that will guarantee the good management of psychosocial risks. It should be emphasized that the primary objective of the inspection will be to confirm what proactive measures companies will adopt, and not the mere documentation or disclosure of intentions, unaccompanied by practical actions.
But who takes care of the one who takes care of them? Who will put the oxygen mask on the leader? After all, he also suffers, certainly to a greater extent, from the pressures of performance, numbers, and compliance, as well as carrying his own anxieties as a human being. How do you take care of a leader who projects an image of integrity, enthusiasm, productivity, and support for those he leads, but who also needs to expose his vulnerability and be supported?
The results of the 7th Edition of Research on Emotional Intelligence & Mental Health in Work Environment, Studies conducted jointly by "The School of Life" and "Robert Half - Talent Solutions" are, at the very least, impactful because they show, in significant numbers, the increase in cases of medication use to treat psychological disorders among leaders, from 8% in 2024 to 52% in 2025.
One of the conclusions of the research is that leaders do not feel safe disclosing any need for treatment or time off of a psychological nature, for fear of being penalized, and therefore, if They are quiet. One excerpt of study exposes in form very clear that situation:
This brief analysis aims only to highlight that, in addition to paying attention to the new legal obligations imposed by NR-1, it is necessary to consider structural changes that value people, in all positions, leaders and those being led, creating an environment in which everyone feels safe to express symptoms or actual psychosocial illness without suffering any kind of stigma, prejudice, or penalty.
Good leaders not only influence technical productivity, but also create conditions that can prevent or avoid psychological distress. Investing in management training, changes in working conditions, and a culture of effective support translates not only into ethical conduct, but also into a strategic move to reduce absenteeism, promote retention, and enhance the company's image.
Notice: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
Article originally published on the IT Forum website: https://itforum.com.br/colunas/nova-nr-1-cuidado-lideres/
