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Workplace Health Promotion in German Social Firms—Offers, Needs and Challenges from the Perspectives of Employees, Supervisors and Experts

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  • Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Ilona Efimov

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Julia Christine Lengen

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Volker Harth

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Stefanie Mache

    (Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20459 Hamburg, Germany)

Abstract

On the general labor market, social firms provide 30–50% of people with different types of disabilities the opportunity to gain employment. However, the topic of workplace health promotion (WHP), needs for improvement and accompanied challenges are neglected in the current research and were the focus of the present study. Therefore, data triangulation was used between July and December 2020 by combining three focus groups with employees ( n = 14 employees) with 16 interviews with supervisors from several social firms in Northern Germany (e.g., from catering, cleaning or bicycle repair sectors). 17 semi-structured telephone interviews with experts in the field of WHP or social firms were added. All approaches were audio-taped, transcribed and anonymized. To analyze the data, Mayring’s qualitative content analysis was used. The results indicated that several offers for WHP, including sport, nutrition and relaxation, were offered, as well as those on smoking cessation, cooperation with external organizations or training and education offers. Needs for improvement were stated referring to additional sport offers, support for implementing a healthy diet, offers for relaxation, financial incentives or collaborations with external organizations. A low take-up of offers; a lack of resources, structures or management support; compatibility of offers with work time and organization; challenges with available trainings or the consideration of individual needs and capacities were highlighted as challenges. Overall, there is a need for further interventional and longitudinal research on WHP in social firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer & Ilona Efimov & Julia Christine Lengen & Volker Harth & Stefanie Mache, 2022. "Workplace Health Promotion in German Social Firms—Offers, Needs and Challenges from the Perspectives of Employees, Supervisors and Experts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:2:p:959-:d:725497
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer & Julia Christine Lengen & Niklas Kiepe & Volker Harth & Stefanie Mache, 2020. "Working Conditions in Social Firms and Health Promotion Interventions in Relation to Employees’ Health and Work-Related Outcomes—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Benedicte Deforche & Jasmine Mommen & Anne Hublet & Winnie De Roover & Nele Huys & Els Clays & Lea Maes & Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij & Jelle Van Cauwenberg, 2018. "Evaluation of a Brief Intervention for Promoting Mental Health among Employees in Social Enterprises: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, September.
    3. Holger Pfaff & Sabrina Zeike, 2019. "Controlling im Betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagement," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-658-16525-3, December.
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