Preventing burn-out in your team: what Belgian law asks and what works
By Charlotte Schoeters · · 7 min read
Burn-out is the leading cause of long-term absence in Belgium. What the well-being law requires from employers, and which measures actually help a team.
Preventing burn-out in a team starts with recognising stress early and giving people real moments of recovery. In Belgium it is also a legal duty: employers must assess psychosocial risks such as stress and burn-out and take measures. The good news is that small, regular habits and a well-timed collective reset help more than a single wellness day.
The figures: why this matters now
According to RIZIV/INAMI (2025), a quarter of all people on long-term sickness benefit in Belgium are out because of depression or burn-out. Benefit costs for these conditions exceeded €2.5 billion in 2024, 78% more than in 2019. In the large employee survey by occupational health service Idewe, the share of employees with a high burn-out risk rose from 10.8% in 2014 to 15.5% in 2023.
What the well-being at work law requires
The Code on Well-being at Work obliges every employer to analyse psychosocial risks (including stress and burn-out), with the advice of the prevention adviser for psychosocial aspects. The general risk analysis is updated at least every five years, and the prevention measures are laid down in an action plan that is evaluated every year. The law does not prescribe specific activities: what matters is that measures are concrete and evaluated.
Warning signs in a team
- People are permanently "on": mails in the evening, no real breaks
- Irritation and cynicism in meetings, less humour
- More short absences, especially on Mondays and after busy periods
- Concentration problems and mistakes from people who normally never make them
- Withdrawal: less contact, cameras off, people skipping team moments
Measures that work
- Clear agreements on availability and recovery after peak periods
- Short, regular movement and breathing moments, for example a weekly yoga class at the office
- Training for managers to spot stress early and start the conversation
- A collective reset: a day retreat, weekend or retreat abroad where the team really switches off
Where yoga fits in
Yoga does not replace a good workload policy, but it is a practical tool for stress. A meta-analysis of workplace yoga programmes (Della Valle et al., 2020) showed a clear drop in perceived stress. Breathwork and Yin yoga teach people to calm their nervous system, a skill they can use at their desk afterwards. Charlotte Schoeters, certified yoga teacher since 2015, adapts each session to the group, including complete beginners.
Want to add a collective measure to your action plan? We organise in-company classes in and around Antwerp, day retreats, weekends and midweeks in Belgium, and retreats in Morocco, tailor-made for any budget and group size.
Discuss a measure for your team →
Corporate yoga: what it is, what it costs and what it delivers →
FAQ
Is an employer obliged to prevent burn-out?
Yes. Under the Belgian Code on Well-being at Work, employers must analyse psychosocial risks such as stress and burn-out, take prevention measures and evaluate them every year.
What does a prevention adviser for psychosocial aspects do?
This adviser helps the employer analyse psychosocial risks, advises on measures and supports employees who ask for help.
How many people in Belgium are on long-term sick leave due to burn-out?
According to RIZIV/INAMI (2025), a quarter of everyone on long-term sickness benefit is out because of depression or burn-out.
Does yoga help against work stress?
Research on workplace yoga shows a clear drop in perceived stress. It does not replace a good workload policy, but it is a practical tool for recovery.