Stress Resistance in the Digital Age: Companies Should Take Precautions
The more digital society becomes and the faster technological developments progress, the more widespread the feeling of exhaustion among employees—making prevention and awareness all the more important. With this guiding principle, Holger Kracke embarks on his new honorary position as Chairman of the German Federal Association for Burnout Prevention and Prophylaxis (DBVB).
As a certified trainer for burnout prevention and healthy performance management, Kracke aims to expand the DBVB in its eighth year of existence. His goal is to make the association better known as a point of contact for affected individuals and interested companies while offering benefits to members through training and certification.
The Challenge of Digitalization
The world is changing—technologically, politically, and socially. The transformations brought about by digitalization are exponential, says Holger Kracke, who is publishing his first book on the subject. “But we humans are not really designed for rapid change. When the pace gets too fast, we struggle to adapt. The feeling of being overwhelmed spreads.”
Phrases like “I can’t do this!” or “I won’t manage!” set off alarm bells for burnout experts. “The process leading to exhaustion syndrome is like radiation—those affected can’t see, smell, or taste it. But by the time they feel it, it’s usually too late,” explains the new DBVB chairman.
Early Prevention as the Key
The association takes action early—focusing on maintaining health. “Ideally, prevention starts when people are still healthy.” However, German companies still have a lot of work to do in this regard. According to a nationwide Forsa survey conducted by the DBVB, only one in two employers offers workplace health promotion. When it comes to stress management, fewer than 30% of companies take active measures—thus missing out on competitive advantages.
“We could prevent 80% of all absences with proper prevention,” Kracke is convinced—provided that prevention becomes as routine for everyone as dental check-ups.
Expanding the Association
Until that vision becomes a reality, the new chairman plans to broaden the association and double its current membership of nearly 100 within the next three years: “We are already specialized, but there are still many therapists, trainers, and health officers who would be a great fit for us.” Kracke, a trained business economist, wants to offer them certification opportunities and help companies that prioritize professional burnout prevention establish themselves as strong employer brands.
His years of practical experience support him in this mission: “I’ve seen it all—private offices and open-plan workspaces, bankruptcies and restructurings.” The 48-year-old worked in the advertising industry for a long time before training in burnout prevention in Vienna. Most recently, he served as the DBVB’s regional representative for North Rhine-Westphalia.
The association’s executive board remains composed of Vice Chairwoman Adele Brucks, Federal Treasurer Dietmar Klemen, and Ute Ferber.
