A workplace which promotes health focuses attention on opportunities rather than constraints. Health-promoting factors are conditions at work and in private life which encourage well-being, job satisfaction and a feeling of good health.
We want to use new knowledge about such factors in our organisational development and management training in general.
The 2001 agreement between employers, unions and the government on an inclusive workplace (IA) moved the sickness absence debate out of the doctor's surgery and put those directly affected in the driving seat. At the same time, attention shifted from diagnosis and illness to people's ability and opportunities to do work.
We enhanced our knowledge in this area during 2007 through a number of local activities and research and development projects. This expertise is now being applied so that the benefits can be reaped both by our employees and by us.
Sickness prevention and health promotion go hand-in-hand.
- Health promotion mode
- focus: positive social and organisational factors at work
- measures: pursuing health-promoting factors
We learnt more about health-promoting factors and workplace health promotion during 2007 through two research projects.
This knowledge will be further developed and applied to promoting well-being, health, and job satisfaction and performance among our employees.
The two projects are:
Survey tool
This questionnaire-based tool has been developed by us with Vestfold University College and the Norwegian Work Research Institute (AFI) in Oslo.
Aimed at office personnel, it charts the level of health-promoting factors in a department as the basis for local improvement measures and organisational development.
Health and health-promoting factors in offshore catering
The health arm of the Unifob research company in Bergen has identified the most important health-promoting factors among our offshore catering employees.
We will be utilising these findings to further develop and improve working conditions and health for this category of worker.
Some examples of health-promoting factors
- Resources to do a good job
- Involved in decision-making
- Satisfied with job quality
- Clear goals
- Control over pace of work
- Balance between requirements and competence
- Support from superior
- Support from colleagues
focus: risk factors, health damage, illness and sickness absence
measures: limit/control risk factors (physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial conditions in the workplace)
