After this standard was introduced, many organizations asked: what steps can help them address NOM-035?
Why this standard matters
Mexico's NOM-035-STPS-2018 concerns psychosocial risk factors at work. The original article discusses its implementation beginning in October 2019 and offers a practical overview; organizations should verify their current obligations against the official standard.
A key reason to consider this Mexican standard is to identify conditions that drain workers' energy and affect their wellbeing and, indirectly, businessesthat depend on their people.
Organizations can take several steps internally and seek specialized support where useful. They should not mistake a third-party service for an official certification under NOM-035.
A route for implementing NOM-035:
- Form an ethics committee: involve leadership and people known for integrity, with clear responsibilities.
- Training: cover the standard as well as how concerns are reviewed and investigated.
- Policy implementation: adapt the psychosocial risk policy to the organization's circumstances, while meeting the applicable requirements.
- Communication: explain the policy to each relevant group so people know how to recognize and report a concern.
- Identification: assess psychosocial risk factors early so emerging issues can be addressed.
- Awareness: go beyond training and challenge the normalization of workplace harassment, sexual harassment, and other harmful conditions.
These initial steps help an organization understand its situation. The next phase focuses on analyzing factors and responding to them.
- Manage strategies: use appropriate measures to encourage a favorable organizational environment.
- Risk plans: explain the psychosocial factors present and how the organization will respond to each one.
- Monitoring systems: define responsibilities and reference guidance so the policy's measures are actually carried out.
- Analysis: interpret the standard's questionnaires and share relevant findings within the organization, while protecting privacy.
Final phase of NOM-035 implementation
Evaluate whether the actions described above correspond to what workers actually experience, not just what the policy says.
- Evaluate the standard: other workplace measures, such as NOM-025 where relevant, may complement the implementation. Check their current scope and requirements.
- Identify impact: review worker feedback periodically; the original article suggests an interval of at least every six months.
- Reinforce the work: psychosocial risks can recur, so use findings to set an annual improvement plan.
You have read How to Address Mexico's NOM-035. We also recommend: How to Implement ISO 37002