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Caring for Workers’ Health: Do German Employers Follow a Comprehensive Approach Similar to the Total Worker Health Concept? Results of a Survey in an Economically Powerful Region in Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Aileen Hoge

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
    Equal contribution (shared first).)

  • Anna T. Ehmann

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
    Equal contribution (shared first).)

  • Monika A. Rieger

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
    Equal contribution (shared last).)

  • Achim Siegel

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Wilhelmstraße 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
    Equal contribution (shared last).)

Abstract

Similar to ‘Total Worker Health’ in the United States (USA), ‘Workplace Health Management’ in Germany is a holistic strategy to protect, promote, and manage employees’ health at the workplace. It consists of four subcategories. While the subcategories ‘occupational health and safety’ and ‘reintegration management’ contain measures prescribed by law, ‘workplace health promotion’ and ‘personnel development’ can be designed more individually by the companies. The present study focused on the current implementation of voluntary and legally required measures of the four subcategories, as well as companies’ satisfaction with the implementation. A total of N = 222/906 companies (small, medium, and big enterprises of one German county) answered a standardized questionnaire addressing the implementation of health-related measures, satisfaction with the implementation, and several company characteristics. In the subcategory ‘occupational health and safety’, 23.9% of the companies fulfilled all of the legally required measures, whereas in the category ‘reintegration management’, that rate amounted to 50.9%. There was a positive correlation between company size and the implementation grade, and as well between company size and the fulfilling of measures required by law. Companies tended to be more satisfied with higher implementation grades. Nevertheless, a surprisingly high proportion of the companies with poor implementation indicated satisfaction with the measures’ implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Aileen Hoge & Anna T. Ehmann & Monika A. Rieger & Achim Siegel, 2019. "Caring for Workers’ Health: Do German Employers Follow a Comprehensive Approach Similar to the Total Worker Health Concept? Results of a Survey in an Economically Powerful Region in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:5:p:726-:d:209804
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Florian Junne & Martina Michaelis & Eva Rothermund & Felicitas Stuber & Harald Gündel & Stephan Zipfel & Monika A. Rieger, 2018. "The Role of Work-Related Factors in the Development of Psychological Distress and Associated Mental Disorders: Differential Views of Human Resource Managers, Occupational Physicians, Primary Care Phys," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Linnan, L. & Bowling, M. & Childress, J. & Lindsay, G. & Blakey, C. & Pronk, S. & Wieker, S. & Royall, P., 2008. "Results of the 2004 National Worksite Health Promotion Survey," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(8), pages 1503-1509.
    3. Janalee Thompson & Natalie V. Schwatka & Liliana Tenney & Lee S. Newman, 2018. "Total Worker Health: A Small Business Leader Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.
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    1. Martina Michaelis & Christine Preiser & Susanne Voelter-Mahlknecht & Nicole Blomberg & Monika A. Rieger, 2022. "Uptake of Voluntary Occupational Health Care—Assessments of German Occupational Health Physicians and Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Inga L. Schulz & Ralf Stegmann & Uta Wegewitz & Matthias Bethge, 2022. "The Current Practice of Gradual Return to Work in Germany: A Qualitative Study Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-16, March.
    3. Anke Wagner & Brigitte Werners & Claudia Pieper & Anna-Lisa Eilerts & Tanja Seifried-Dübon & Matthias Grot & Florian Junne & Birgitta M. Weltermann & Monika A. Rieger & Esther Rind, 2023. "Exploring Transfer Potentials of the IMPROVE job Intervention for Strengthening Workplace Health Management in Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Germany: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Anna T. Ehmann & Eylem Ög & Monika A. Rieger & Achim Siegel, 2021. "Work-Related Health Literacy: A Scoping Review to Clarify the Concept," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-24, September.
    5. Nicola Magnavita, 2023. "Workplace Health Promotion Embedded in Medical Surveillance: The Italian Way to Total Worker Health Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    6. Achim Siegel & Aileen C. Hoge & Anna T. Ehmann & Peter Martus & Monika A. Rieger, 2021. "Attitudes of Company Executives toward a Comprehensive Workplace Health Management—Results of an Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-20, October.

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