In this book the ways in which companies can combat stress by changing the workplace to reduce stress rather than by treating an already stressed individual are investigated. Costs and benefits of stress prevention in general are discussed, with an emphasis on approaches that involve both the individual and the place of work. Since one of the shortcomings of stress research is its disciplinary segregation, the editors wanted to relate psychosocial work characteristics, such as high demands, low control and low support - and health and safety in general - to other policy areas, that is, productivity, labour market facets, company image, human resource management, total quality management, etc. The core of this volume consists of eleven case studies from eleven European Union member states: Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Italy.