Sustainable Finance
Workplace wellbeing: the ABBL supports the ASTF’s mission
Published on 13 May 2025
On 7 May 2025, the Association for Occupational Health in the Tertiary and Financial Sectors (ASTF) held its annual general meeting at the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. Established to support employees in the financial and service sectors—including banking professionals—the ASTF plays a key role in occupational health, mental wellbeing, and prevention strategies tailored to the world of work. The AGM was an opportunity to review a year marked by concrete achievements, while also opening up essential conversations around the human challenges facing today’s workplaces.
Summary
Finding meaning in work
Guest speaker Julia de Funès, philosopher and essayist, delivered a thought-provoking talk on the theme of purpose at work.
A close and longstanding partnership
The ABBL is a founding member of the ASTF, and plays an active role in its governance. Several representatives of the association sit on the ASTF Board, including Nicole Dochen, who currently serves as Chair, Myriam Sibenaler, Vice-Chair and Head of Human Resources at the ABBL, as well as Louis de Looz and Laurent Derkum, both board members. Through their collective involvement, the ABBL helps ensure that the financial sector’s evolving HR priorities are fully reflected in the ASTF’s strategy and services.
From mental health awareness to practical support for employees facing critical situations, and from leadership training to prevention programmes, the ABBL’s collaboration with the ASTF is grounded in shared values and a common objective: fostering healthier, more resilient workplaces.
Concrete support for banking employees
In 2024, the ASTF supported over 58,000 affiliated employees, many of whom work in banking. More than 12,900 consultations—medical and psychological—were carried out, with 796 pathologies identified through workplace health check-ups. The Lighthouse programme, aimed at preventing burnout, saw its participation nearly triple, confirming a growing awareness around mental health challenges.
Key services offered by the ASTF include:
- Individual consultations for employees returning to work, facing professional reclassification, or experiencing high levels of stress;
- Training sessions on disconnecting from work, preventing harassment, and managing workload pressure;
- Support for expatriate employees dealing with adjustment stress;
- On-site ergonomic assessments and workshops.
All these services are available to member companies of the ASTF, including the majority of financial institutions affiliated with the ABBL.
A time of transition and continuity
This year’s AGM also paid tribute to Dr Patrizia Thiry, the ASTF’s longstanding Director General, who will retire this summer. Under her leadership, the ASTF has expanded its scope and strengthened its impact—becoming a key partner in the field of occupational health for Luxembourg’s financial ecosystem.
The ABBL is proud to support the ASTF and will continue promoting a culture of prevention, empathy and sustainability across the financial sector. Because healthier workplaces lead to stronger organisations—and greater meaning in what we do.