Health management: When employees benefit
At the end of October 2018, the hour struck for far-reaching health management in Switzerland. With the Friendly Work Space label, Swiss companies show that the health of their employees is important to them.
Occupational health management (OHM) is an important element of the corporate culture for many companies. After all, the well-being and health of employees are the basis for efficient day-to-day work. Health Promotion Switzerland accordingly promotes the anchoring of systematic health management in companies and awards exemplary commitment with the Friendly Work Space quality label.
In the last 12 months, 8 new companies were awarded the Health Promotion Switzerland label. 17 others have successfully passed the demanding re-assessment. In order to specifically address the needs of young employees, Health Promotion Switzerland is further expanding its Friendly Work Space Apprentice offer.
Number of employees in excellent companies increases
At this year's award ceremony in Bern, Health Promotion Switzerland awarded the Friendly Work Space label to 8 new companies: the Health Department of the Canton of Basel-Stadt, the Hirslanden Klinik Stephanshorn, the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Swisscom, Bouygues E&S InTec AG, Altersheime Baar and the Aduno Group.
The award process was again successfully completed by 17 companies, including Swica, which has been awarded the Friendly Work Space label since 2009, the Migros Zurich cooperative and various federal offices.
This means that a total of 251,000 employees throughout Switzerland (+10 % compared to the previous year) benefit from health-promoting working conditions.
Young employees particularly affected by health restrictions
The Job Stress Index, which is regularly compiled by Health Promotion Switzerland, records the relationship between stress and resources at work among employees throughout Switzerland.
"The Job Stress Index 2018 has revealed that around 27 % of the working population in Switzerland are exposed to a poor balance of stress and resources at work," notes Prof. Dr. Thomas Mattig, Director of Health Promotion Switzerland. "Among other things, this leads to productivity losses. It would therefore be in the interest of every company to carry out an analysis of the stress situation," comments Mattig.
Stress-related productivity losses are greatest among 16-24 year-olds. In this age group, they account for a total of 21 % of working time (5.5 % due to absenteeism and 15.6 % due to presenteeism). Many young workers thus have an unfavourable relationship between stress and resources at work.
In order to strengthen the mental health of young employees in the workplace setting, Health Promotion Switzerland is developing the Friendly Work Space Apprentice programme. With a specially designed website (www.fws-apprentice.ch) and further training courses, the programme is aimed at vocational training officers and occupational health management specialists. In the future, further measures at the digital level will directly address young employees and promote peer-to-peer exchange.
Organizations awarded in the last 12 months:
| For the first time with the Friendly Work Space label excellent organizations | Awarded since | Number of employees |
| Department of Health of the Canton of Basel-Stadt | 2018 | 278 |
| Hirslanden Clinic Stephanshorn | 2018 | 550 |
| Federal Statistical Office FSO | 2018 | 2’925* |
| Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO | 2018 | 2’925* |
| Swisscom Ltd | 2018 | 17’600 |
| Bouygues E&S InTec AG | 2018 | 4’500 |
| Retirement homes Baar | 2018 | 190 |
| Aduno Group | 2018 | 789 |
| Once again with the Friendly Work Space label excellent organizations | Awarded since | Number of employees |
| SWICA | 2009 | 1’677 |
| Feldschlösschen Beverages AG | 2011 | 1’200 |
| General Secretariat Federal Department of Home Affairs GS-EDI | 2012 | 2’925* |
| Migros Cooperative Basel | 2012 | 55‘714** |
| Helsana Insurances Ltd. | 2012 | 3’131 |
| Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss | 2014 | 2’925* |
| Visana Services AG | 2015 | 1’290 |
| Old people's centre on the Buechberg | 2015 | 110 |
| Hamilton Bonaduz AG / Hamilton Medical AG / Hamilton Storage GmbH | 2015 | 1’100 |
| Blumenrain residential and care centre | 2015 | 140 |
| Migros Ticino Cooperative | 2015 | 55‘714** |
| Compass Group (Switzerland) AG | 2015 | 1’400 |
| Migros Cooperative Zurich | 2015 | 55‘714** |
| Federal Office of Culture FOC | 2014 | 2’925* |
| Federal Social Insurance Office BSV | 2014 | 2’925* |
| Hörmann Switzerland AG | 2015 | 107 |
| Camion Transport AG | 2015 | 1’300 |
| Committed to Friendly Work Space Awarded Organizations | Awarded since | Number of employees |
| Lake Hospital | 2018 | 1’027 |
| Baar nursing centre | 2018 | 170 |
* Number of employees Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA total 2 Number
** Total employees of Migros Cooperative
You can find all the award-winning companies at www.friendlyworkspace.ch.
More information and pictures of the label award ceremony can be found here:www.gesundheitsfoerderung.ch/verleihung-friendly-work-space-2018
For further information or questions, please contact the media office of Health Promotion Switzerland by e-mail at media(at)gesundheitsfoerderung.ch or by calling 031 350 04 04.
Friendly Work Space in a nutshell:
Together with experts from business and science, Health Promotion Switzerland has developed offers for occupational health management with a focus on mental health. In this way, Health Promotion Switzerland supports companies in systematically optimising occupational health management and creating exemplary working conditions.
The Friendly Work Space label is the quality seal for companies that have integrated OHM into their corporate strategy. It is aimed at companies that not only focus on individual behaviour, but also systematically and sustainably implement measures to optimise the operational framework. All award-winning companies and further information can be found here: www.friendlyworkspace.ch
