ENWHP approach to promoting workplace health

As a result of the good practice projects undergone by ENWHP since its foundation ENWHP approach to promoting workplace, healthENWHP has developed a general model of workplace health management which can be regarded as a general action model for the implementation of good workplace health practices at the enterprise level. This model is based on the assumption that it’s important to combine and integrate existing workplace health-related disciplines to improve effectiveness and to ensure compatibility to general trends in management thinking. The term “workplace health management” has been introduced in order to emphasise an enlarged focus on a comprehensive concept of workplace health by combining different professional disciplines and stakeholders.

ENWHP model identifies FOUR main elements:

Drivers

This element concerns the extent of integration of health-related aspects into the structure of an organization. Three aspects can be distinguished:

Values, ethics, theories and underlying beliefs (organizational culture)

The way how health-related aspects are integrated into management practices (leadership).

The way how the employees are involved (particularly with regards to health-relevant decision).

Actions

Three levels of actions can be identified:

Measures in the field of occupational safety and health as well as environmental health comprising the statutory required measures.

Lifestyle measures as well as measures aiming at improving working conditions. This category contains those measures that go beyond the legal requirements.

Measures in the area of social responsibility.

Processes

The element “Processes” describes an ideal phase model which applies to all fields of action mentioned above:

Building support and commitment.

Developing an infrastructure.

Assessing needs.

Planning.

Implementing.

Evaluating and consolidating.

Outcomes

This element contains THREE sectors:

Employee and customer satisfaction.

Health outcomes.

Business outcomes.