May 21, 2026
Antwerp Management School and CM launch an experimental workplace lab to help organizations tackle workload and stress more effectively
Antwerp Management School (AMS) and CM Gezondheidsfonds are launching a new three-year research partnership focused on workable work. Together, they are setting up an experimental workplace lab where organizations not only exchange knowledge, but also design and test targeted, short-term experiments around workload and work-related stress tailored to their own work context. The focus is on employees in the so called “orange zone”: people who are experiencing early signs of stress or overload but are still at work and want to remain active in their jobs.
The project starts from the insight that workload and work related stress are complex and context dependent challenges. What works in one organization does not automatically work in another. Instead of relying on fixed solutions or generic best practices, Antwerp Management School and CM Gezondheidsfonds take an approach where organizations experiment, reflect, evaluate, and adjust along the way.
In doing so, they build knowledge grounded in real practice, without oversimplifying the complexity of the issue.
Experimenting with sustainable work practices
In the first phase, Antwerp Management School and CM Gezondheidsfonds bring together eight to ten organizations from a mix of sectors and sizes. They take part in a guided trajectory where they learn how to work with short, well defined experiments. These experiments help organizations better understand where workload and work related stress originate, while also allowing them to test potential solutions in real practice.
AMS develops a concrete methodology to support this approach, including a toolbox for experiments, a short training program, and guidelines for reflection and evaluation. AMS also helps organizations translate their specific challenges into feasible experiments. Throughout the process, participants share and compare their experiences, continuously refining and adjusting their approach.
Think, for example, of experiments around focus and recovery time, temporarily adjusting meeting or planning routines, or critically reviewing KPIs and other work agreements that may unintentionally create additional pressure. “With this partnership, CM wants to help create space for organizations to experiment with workable work in a well grounded way,” says Luc Van Gorp, chairman of CM Gezondheidsfonds. “We don’t just want to inform companies about work related stress, but also support them in discovering, within their own organization, which approaches truly make a difference for employees under pressure, before they drop out.”
“As CM, we want to roll up our sleeves and actively experiment with this topic ourselves. Like many other employers, we struggle with the lack of scientifically grounded knowledge that can be applied in practice. This partnership will help us better understand the barriers organizations face when setting up and scaling experiments. Ultimately, our goal is simple: to prevent people from dropping out of work,” says Ronald Beernaert, Director of HR and Organizational Development at CM.
“With this network, we want to go beyond traditional knowledge sharing or one-off interventions. We are creating an environment where organizations learn by experimenting and actively sharing their experiences with each other,” continues Eva Geluk, professor of mental wellbeing at work at Antwerp Management School. “The methodology we are developing allows organizations to experiment in their own work context in a safe and structured way. Not to quickly roll out a standard solution, but to better understand what drives workload, what creates momentum, and what truly proves workable in different contexts.”
“There are still many misconceptions about workload,” adds Peggy De Prins, professor of HRM at Antwerp Management School. “Workload is not necessarily stressful for everyone. For some, for example, deadlines can actually be motivating and energizing. We want to make sure those nuances are fully reflected in our research scope.”
“This partnership fits perfectly within Antwerp Management School’s ambition to bring science and practice closer together. By not only offering insights, but also giving organizations a structured way to experiment themselves, AMS aims to contribute to more context sensitive and sustainable solutions for workload and work related stress. Over the course of three years, this should lead to practical learning principles, hands on tools, and broader knowledge sharing for organizations, prevention services, and policymakers,” concludes Steven De Haes, Dean of Antwerp Management School.
With the addition of CM to the Corporate Membership Network of Antwerp Management School, the network is further strengthened by a leading player in the health and wellbeing sector. As a corporate partner, CM joins organizations such as Stad Antwerpen, SD Worx, Aquafin and Elia in an open network focused on knowledge sharing and innovation.
About Antwerp Management School
For more than 65 years, Antwerp Management School (AMS) has focused on creating value for organizations and businesses by driving the sustainable transformation of individuals, teams, and organizations in a global context. Through its high quality management education and research, the school makes a strong contribution to economic and broader societal development in Belgium and far beyond. Around 70 faculty members inspire approximately 900 students each year across its Master’s, PhD, and executive programs. In addition, the school welcomes 3,000 professionals annually through B2B solutions and events. AMS is known for its personal approach, highly valued by its community of more than 26,000 alumni across 96 countries.
For more information about Antwerp Management School, visit www.antwerpmanagementschool.be
About CM Gezondheidsfonds
More than 4.5 million members place their trust in CM Gezondheidsfonds. CM advocates for high quality, accessible healthcare and promotes the solidarity needed to make this possible. To achieve its mission, CM actively contributes to shaping health and wellbeing policy, provides professional services to its members, and encourages people to live healthier lives.
Antwerp Management School (AMS) and CM Gezondheidsfonds are launching a new three-year research partnership focused on workable work. Together, they are setting up an experimental workplace lab where organizations not only exchange knowledge, but also design and test targeted, short-term experiments around workload and work-related stress tailored to their own work context. The focus is on employees in the so called “orange zone”: people who are experiencing early signs of stress or overload but are still at work and want to remain active in their jobs.
The project starts from the insight that workload and work related stress are complex and context dependent challenges. What works in one organization does not automatically work in another. Instead of relying on fixed solutions or generic best practices, Antwerp Management School and CM Gezondheidsfonds take an approach where organizations experiment, reflect, evaluate, and adjust along the way.
In doing so, they build knowledge grounded in real practice, without oversimplifying the complexity of the issue.
Experimenting with sustainable work practices
In the first phase, Antwerp Management School and CM Gezondheidsfonds bring together eight to ten organizations from a mix of sectors and sizes. They take part in a guided trajectory where they learn how to work with short, well defined experiments. These experiments help organizations better understand where workload and work related stress originate, while also allowing them to test potential solutions in real practice.
AMS develops a concrete methodology to support this approach, including a toolbox for experiments, a short training program, and guidelines for reflection and evaluation. AMS also helps organizations translate their specific challenges into feasible experiments. Throughout the process, participants share and compare their experiences, continuously refining and adjusting their approach.
Think, for example, of experiments around focus and recovery time, temporarily adjusting meeting or planning routines, or critically reviewing KPIs and other work agreements that may unintentionally create additional pressure. “With this partnership, CM wants to help create space for organizations to experiment with workable work in a well grounded way,” says Luc Van Gorp, chairman of CM Gezondheidsfonds. “We don’t just want to inform companies about work related stress, but also support them in discovering, within their own organization, which approaches truly make a difference for employees under pressure, before they drop out.”
“As CM, we want to roll up our sleeves and actively experiment with this topic ourselves. Like many other employers, we struggle with the lack of scientifically grounded knowledge that can be applied in practice. This partnership will help us better understand the barriers organizations face when setting up and scaling experiments. Ultimately, our goal is simple: to prevent people from dropping out of work,” says Ronald Beernaert, Director of HR and Organizational Development at CM.
“With this network, we want to go beyond traditional knowledge sharing or one-off interventions. We are creating an environment where organizations learn by experimenting and actively sharing their experiences with each other,” continues Eva Geluk, professor of mental wellbeing at work at Antwerp Management School. “The methodology we are developing allows organizations to experiment in their own work context in a safe and structured way. Not to quickly roll out a standard solution, but to better understand what drives workload, what creates momentum, and what truly proves workable in different contexts.”
“There are still many misconceptions about workload,” adds Peggy De Prins, professor of HRM at Antwerp Management School. “Workload is not necessarily stressful for everyone. For some, for example, deadlines can actually be motivating and energizing. We want to make sure those nuances are fully reflected in our research scope.”
“This partnership fits perfectly within Antwerp Management School’s ambition to bring science and practice closer together. By not only offering insights, but also giving organizations a structured way to experiment themselves, AMS aims to contribute to more context sensitive and sustainable solutions for workload and work related stress. Over the course of three years, this should lead to practical learning principles, hands on tools, and broader knowledge sharing for organizations, prevention services, and policymakers,” concludes Steven De Haes, Dean of Antwerp Management School.
With the addition of CM to the Corporate Membership Network of Antwerp Management School, the network is further strengthened by a leading player in the health and wellbeing sector. As a corporate partner, CM joins organizations such as Stad Antwerpen, SD Worx, Aquafin and Elia in an open network focused on knowledge sharing and innovation.
About Antwerp Management School
For more than 65 years, Antwerp Management School (AMS) has focused on creating value for organizations and businesses by driving the sustainable transformation of individuals, teams, and organizations in a global context. Through its high quality management education and research, the school makes a strong contribution to economic and broader societal development in Belgium and far beyond. Around 70 faculty members inspire approximately 900 students each year across its Master’s, PhD, and executive programs. In addition, the school welcomes 3,000 professionals annually through B2B solutions and events. AMS is known for its personal approach, highly valued by its community of more than 26,000 alumni across 96 countries.
For more information about Antwerp Management School, visit www.antwerpmanagementschool.be
About CM Gezondheidsfonds
More than 4.5 million members place their trust in CM Gezondheidsfonds. CM advocates for high quality, accessible healthcare and promotes the solidarity needed to make this possible. To achieve its mission, CM actively contributes to shaping health and wellbeing policy, provides professional services to its members, and encourages people to live healthier lives.
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