New Rule on Mental Health at Work: Understand Why Your Company Should Prepare Still in 2025

Even with the postponement of the new NR-1 (Regulatory Standard No. 1, which governs occupational health and safety management in Brazil) taking effect until May 26, 2026, companies of all sizes should use 2025 to prepare. The standard, which addresses workplace health and safety management, now expressly includes the obligation to consider psychosocial risks in the work environment. This includes situations such as excessive stress, moral or sexual harassment, work overload, a toxic organizational climate, and other factors that compromise workers' mental health.

The good news is that the first year will have an educational nature, which offers an excellent opportunity to structure internal policies, review internal regulations, conduct training, and promote a healthier organizational culture. The mistake at this point would be to wait until 2026 to start. Postponing this adjustment can lead to improvisation, legal vulnerabilities, and even damage to the company's image.

Ideally, the Human Resources, Legal, and leadership departments should work together right away to map psychosocial risks and implement preventive measures. This can be done through internal diagnostics, awareness training, workshops with managers, and safe listening channels. The involvement of the legal team from the outset is essential to ensure compliance with the new legislation and reduce the risk of future labor liabilities.

Investing in the team's mental health is not just about complying with a regulation. It is a management strategy that brings real benefits: an improved organizational climate, increased productivity, talent retention, and reduced absenteeism. The sooner the company acts, the greater the gains will be — legal, human, and financial.