Tasks and Objectives of the Corporate Health Management Programme (BGM)
Corporate Health Management – or BGM for short – is a systematic, goal-oriented management approach with the overarching aim of maintaining and promoting staff health within a company (Petzi & Kattwinkel, 2016: 7).
In 2016, with its first staff survey, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences made a conscious decision to maintain and promote the health and wellbeing of staff at the university and its respective campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort in future.
As the figure illustrates, workplace health management is more than just a sports or nutrition course, although these represent important measures within the context of workplace health management in terms of workplace health promotion.
The OHM at HSRW aims to design organisational processes in such a way that they do not jeopardise staff health and, where possible, even promote it. To implement this at the university, both collaboration between different internal organisational units in the interests of health and staff participation are crucial.
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Services and support centres
Every day, we expend a great deal of energy in carrying out our work. This places demands on us not only mentally but also physically. After all, anyone who works with intense concentration for long periods will, sooner or later, end up adopting poor posture. Over time, this can lead to problems such as neck and shoulder tension, poor posture or even stiff joints.
The ‘Active Break’ is a programme offered by the Occupational Health Management team at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and is aimed at all interested staff members who wish to use their break to mobilise, strengthen and stretch their bodies.
The course leaders visit staff in the respective university buildings and lead a 15-minute exercise session. This is designed to relieve stress and reduce tension. The exercise sessions are supported by the use of Terra bands and take place at an appropriate intensity directly at the workplace.
Objectives of the Active Break:
- Improving physical wellbeing (cardiovascular training, balance training, back exercises, muscle strengthening and stretching)
- To improve mental wellbeing (enhancing concentration, active relaxation, stress relief)
- Enhancing social wellbeing (team-building, fun, social interaction)
A key aspect of Workplace Health Management (WHM) is needs-based planning of measures, which requires a detailed assessment of existing working and organisational conditions.
In 2016, HSRW used the university-wide staff survey as the starting point for establishing a Workplace Health Management system. As part of the psychological risk assessment, the staff survey is to be continued at regular intervals in future in order to develop needs-based measures and to gain insights into areas for improvement and strengths.
How is the staff survey conducted at the HSRW?
The staff survey was conducted using the Bielefeld Questionnaire, which was developed by Bielefeld University and designed specifically for universities and universities of applied sciences (for more information on the survey tool, click here). By using the Bielefeld Questionnaire, which is also used at other higher education institutions, it is possible to draw comparisons and utilise these to inform future action.
Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous, and is overseen and analysed by the external institute Salubris. Only group-level results, which do not allow for any direct identification of individuals, are fed back to Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. If fewer than ten people (with the same combination of characteristics) from a single organisational unit take part, no results will be analysed in order to preserve anonymity. Some anonymous data will be further processed and used by Salubris exclusively for research purposes. The procedure is always coordinated with our university’s Data Protection Officer and both staff councils.
At the end of the survey, the anonymised analysis is first sent to the Executive Board and the Occupational Health Management (BGM) of HSRW. The results are then presented at both campuses as part of an information session, which is open to all interested staff members.
These needs assessments are carried out at regular intervals.
Our daily lives usually look like this: we sit for too long and don’t move enough. At work, in the car or on the sofa in the evening. And usually without any physical activity in between these periods of sitting.
So why should we get moving?
Several studies have concluded that, as a general rule, we should get up and move around more often. Physical activity has a positive effect on our health. The benefits are obvious. We boost our general well-being and do something not only for our physical health but also for our mental and social well-being. In doing so, we have a positive impact on our cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems and help prevent illness.
The Workplace Health Management (BGM) programme therefore aims to encourage more physical activity in our everyday (working) lives through the following initiatives.
University Sports
When your head is spinning from studying or work, finding a balance is ideal: Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences therefore offers a wide range of sports activities for students and staff in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort.
Active Break
The Active Break is a 15-minute exercise session aimed at all interested staff members who wish to use their break to mobilise, strengthen and stretch their bodies. Here you can find further information on the objectives and access the Active Break (Digital) via WebEx.
Exercise @ home
To incorporate a bit of exercise into your daily routine at your own desk at home, at your own pace and without too much hassle, you can find videos for use at home here.
Most of us spend our working days sitting down. Whether in team meetings, on conference calls or simply working at a computer screen. Although acute symptoms are less common, the ergonomic design of work equipment (including, for example, office chairs, desks and computer screens) is of great importance to our health, given the amount of time we spend sitting. It is not uncommon for prolonged sitting to lead to muscle tension, back pain, visual disturbances, discomfort in the shoulder and neck area, circulatory problems, headaches and stress-related symptoms.
Working together for good health
Workplace health management is a holistic approach in which numerous stakeholders within our university community play a part and contribute to its success. Here you will find further information on the services and points of contact available at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences:
Preventative healthcare, or disease prevention, complements health promotion and aims to detect and prevent illnesses as early as possible.
We often only go to the doctor once we are already ill. Yet through good, regular preventive care, we can detect insidious conditions such as diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure or serious back problems at an early stage and take appropriate action.
Under the statutory health insurance scheme, people aged 18 and over (once) and those aged 35 and over (every three years) are entitled to a health check-up (Federal Ministry of Health, 2020). In addition to the preventive measures provided by statutory health insurance, there are also opportunities in the workplace to look after one’s own health. The university’s Workplace Health Management (BGM) programme focuses in particular on the following obligations and services.
Work-related illnesses:
A work-related illness is deemed to exist if potential stressors and hazards in the workplace have influenced, partly caused or exacerbated the health problem (e.g. illnesses resulting from psychological stress in the workplace). It is also irrelevant whether an individual’s physical predisposition, age-related wear and tear, or non-work-related causes have contributed significantly to the development of the illness.
Preventative health checks
The preventive health checks offered by the Occupational Health Management (BGM) are measures designed to prevent work-related illnesses and occupational diseases. Preventive health services are divided into three categories.
Mandatory preventive care:
Preventive measures which the employer must arrange for certain particularly hazardous activities. Undergoing the required mandatory preventive check-ups is a prerequisite for employment. Employees are therefore obliged to participate in mandatory preventive check-ups, and this is necessary in order to be permitted to (continue to) carry out their work.
Voluntary preventive healthcare:
Preventative measures which the employer must offer for certain hazardous activities. However, participation in these measures is voluntary for employees.
Preventative measures at the employee’s request:
Preventative measures which the employer must make available to employees in accordance with Section 11 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It is up to the employees to exercise this right. This right does not apply only if, based on the risk assessment and the protective measures taken, no harm to health is to be expected.
