Healthy work environment – a challenge?
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
ISSN: 0952-6862
Article publication date: 10 August 2015
Abstract
Purpose
In Sweden, leave due to sickness was high during the 1990s. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency was able to decrease sick days in the period between 2000 and 2010 but sick days are rising again in Sweden, mostly due to psychological problems among women and partly due to their work environment. It is important to find methods to identify poor work settings to prevent absenteeism due to sickness. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors created a web questionnaire focusing on the organizational setting and its impact on employee wellbeing – reported as mental energy, work-related exhaustion and work satisfaction. The questionnaire measures good and poor work environment factors to help managers improve organizational settings. The questionnaire was validated qualitatively and quantitatively.
Findings
It is possible to measure individual wellbeing in an organizational context at an early stage. The authors followed a company undergoing organizational change and identified groups at risk of developing illness.
Practical implications
Managers uncertain about employee mental status can measure employee wellbeing easily and cost effectively to prevent illness.
Originality/value
The authors created a method, statistically evaluated, to proactively identify good and poor work environments to promote healthy co-workers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Lars Jarnhäll, OA system and Per Kjellsson Progressiv IT. Lars Jarnhäll and Per Kjellsson are responsible for all the IT solutions in Munik.
Citation
Jansson von Vultée, P.H. (2015), "Healthy work environment – a challenge?", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 28 No. 7, pp. 660-666. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-11-2014-0108
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited