workplace health promotion

According to current social and economic trends, businesses underlie considerable organizational challenges which imply a long term strategy development in order to maintain productivity and competitiveness. Development processes such as the globalization and internationalization, the demographic change, the increasing importance of knowledge, the technological change as well as the trend of individualization and flexibilization are significant. Businesses are challenged with its implications on the labour conditions and therefore on their productivity, quality and innovativeness. This article discusses the concept of Workplace Health Promotion as an efficient tool to support companies at mastering these essential challenges.

German employers are increasingly burdened by the costs of their employees being absent from work due to illness. At the same time, the role of human capital and thus its health has become more and more fundamental for the competitiveness of a company. Nevertheless, projects in small and medium enterprises lack strategic focus and implementation. On the basis of a case study in the automotive industry, this article introduces an evidence-based framework for integrating workplace health into the corporate strategy. It also gives recommendations for implementation through project management methods.