Workplace Health Promotion gets more and more important
Mental Health and Stress, focusing on Workplace Health Promotion, is one of our three core areas. More than 4 million people in Switzerland – over half of the total population of 7.8 million – are in employment. Our strategic long-term goal (2007–2018) is that more people should be better equipped to shape and control their lives, thereby improving their mental health and decreasing stress-related disorders and illnesses. A healthy, motivated and well-qualified workforce is fundamental to the future social and economic well-being of Switzerland.
The Swiss Economy is one of the world’s most stable economies. The nominal gross domestic product is around CHF 400 billion, with per capita income about CHF 46,000. The unemployment rate fluctuates between 3% and 4%, while the employee fluctuation rate (above the European average) is about 9.7%.
In Europe, Switzerland has the third-highest proportion (14%) of non-national workers. While large businesses (250 or more employees) only account for 0.4%, small enterprises (up to 249 employees) account for 99.6% of all enterprises in the Swiss private sector. These small enterprises employ almost half of the total workforce (48%). Here, Workplace Health Promotion/Management is virtually non-existent. But in many medium-sized and large enterprises, too, Workplace Health Promotion/Management is still in its infancy.
Health Promotion Switzerland’s Workplace Health Promotion strategy comprises six elements:
The Swiss Economy is one of the world’s most stable economies. The nominal gross domestic product is around CHF 400 billion, with per capita income about CHF 46,000. The unemployment rate fluctuates between 3% and 4%, while the employee fluctuation rate (above the European average) is about 9.7%.
In Europe, Switzerland has the third-highest proportion (14%) of non-national workers. While large businesses (250 or more employees) only account for 0.4%, small enterprises (up to 249 employees) account for 99.6% of all enterprises in the Swiss private sector. These small enterprises employ almost half of the total workforce (48%). Here, Workplace Health Promotion/Management is virtually non-existent. But in many medium-sized and large enterprises, too, Workplace Health Promotion/Management is still in its infancy.
Health Promotion Switzerland’s Workplace Health Promotion strategy comprises six elements:
- establishing standards and criteria for Workplace Health Management with the “Friendly Work Space®” label
- developing tools for Workplace Health Promotion, such as: KMU-vital, S-Tool, life domain balance (often called work-life balance) checklist, generation management
- demonstrating the impact and return on investment of Workplace Health Promotion: SWiNG
- convincing decision-makers: publishing cogent arguments, questions and answers
- establishing alliances and supporting networks: regional platforms, the national forum for WHP, Swiss Association for Workplace Health Promotion (SVBGF); European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (ENWHP)
- disseminating Workplace Health Promotion: national conference on Workplace Health Promotion, national concept for advanced training in Workplace Health Promotion
