Every year, companies complain about more and more employees calling sick. The reasons for this are manifold and vary depending on the industry. However, it is clear that, in addition to physical stress, mental stress in particular is increasing, both in the workplace and in everyday life.
One of the reasons for this is the modern, dynamic world of work, which presents people with enormous challenges: Work must always be done quickly, efficiently and flawlessly and everyone must be available at all times and everywhere, all in a good mood and always ready to give their best.
The reasons also include the sensory overload of information, for example through social media, as well as increasing personal fears and worries in a currently turbulent world in crisis mode.
All of this has a negative impact on employees' health, which is reflected in a dramatic increase in the number of days of absence due to mental illness. According to the mental health report by DAK-Gesundheit, the number of days absent in 2021 was 41 per cent higher than 10 years ago. The DAK also emphasises that mental health problems are still a taboo subject in many companies.
However, companies have a wide range of opportunities to promote the health of their employees and implement appropriate measures. Not least because the health of employees is part of their duty of care as an employer and employees greatly appreciate the associated support.
Among other things, companies can promote and successfully organise occupational health management with the right employee benefits.
Here are eight recommendations for the concrete implementation of occupational health management:
Occupational health management should be a central strategic element for both management and the HR department, with defined goals and clear support measures. A detailed plan for the implementation of various measures and the regular monitoring of these measures means that occupational health management is not a marginal project out of necessity, but rather shows the necessary appreciation and attention to the topic, especially mental health, and that it is perceived as a central task in the company.
In every company, employees experience different levels of stress, which vary depending on their role and activities within the company. With a wide range of employee offers to promote health and well-being, companies can address the entire team in different areas so that each individual employee can create and use a tailor-made health programme. The range of employee offers includes company yoga or Pilates courses, a subsidy for membership of a sports club or gym, running clubs, offers to prevent stress or strengthen resilience as well as regular health checks.
Employers are increasingly responsible for promoting sustainable and climate-conscious behaviour in the workforce. The company bike or job bike programme is an effective solution for this, as bikes and e-bikes are emission-free and do not cause noise, particulate matter, exhaust fumes or traffic jams, and also save space. In dense cities, bicycles ensure a significantly better quality of life and air quality, which is good for the health of residents. But cycling also has a positive effect on the health of employees themselves, as it promotes exercise and keeps you fit, which significantly reduces the risk of employees becoming ill.
But cycling doesn't just have a positive impact on physical health. It also benefits another aspect that is becoming increasingly important for employees: mental health. Cycling not only helps with stress management, but can also lead to an improved mood, increased well-being and better mental clarity in the workplace.
It goes without saying that not only occupational safety must be ensured at every workplace and workstation, but ergonomics must also be prioritised. Deciding on the right desk, the right office chair and optimum lighting conditions is not only a question of comfort, but also of health prevention. Cost savings in this area can lead to health problems for employees in the long term.
Managers are therefore required to listen to the needs of their employees and ensure through continuous dialogue that the working environment meets the requirements of a modern, health-conscious working environment.
The true quality of an employer is often revealed in the behaviour and handling of an employee's long-term illness. Solidary support and active assistance during such phases are decisive factors for successful reintegration. Well-thought-out measures - such as gradual return-to-work programmes or flexible working models - can create a balance that keeps employees' health in mind while reintegrating them into everyday working life.
In times when retaining skilled labour is becoming increasingly important strategically, such an empathetic and far-sighted approach is proving to be the key to success. It not only helps to retain valuable skills and experience within the company, but also strengthens the collective commitment and loyalty of the workforce.
The compatibility of professional and private life is important to everyone these days - keyword work-life balance. If this balance starts to falter, dissatisfaction and stress quickly spread. Companies can easily counteract this by making flexible working models and alternative work locations, combined with modern digital tools, standard in the company. For them, this is certainly not a bad investment, but a fundamental factor for the future of work.
It is essential to design organisational structures and work processes in such a way that they neither impair the health of employees nor place an additional burden on them. Such a design makes a significant contribution to promoting both the physical and mental health of the workforce and strengthens their resilience.
Appreciative, friendly interaction and experiencing joy in everyday working life, including sharing a laugh with colleagues, are hugely important for individual satisfaction and motivation. A culture that is authentic and practised with dedication, especially by management, is essential. Trust forms the foundation of a working environment in which the entire team feels comfortable and valued.
An intelligent, customised and people-oriented investment in corporate culture pays off for companies and results in sustainable corporate success and general satisfaction.
