The guidance that follows is organized in three parts:

Part A, Basic Conditions for Workplace Health Promotion, deals with the structural issues to be addressed so that social security institutions can encourage and enable their clients – public and private sector enterprises and organizations – to develop comprehensive approaches to workplace health promotion.

Part B, Needs Assessment and Planning, covers resources and processes for assessment and consensus building.

Part C, Workplace Health Promotion Activities and Services, describes the specific interventions and measures that social security institutions can take to enable workplaces to develop and implement workplace health promotion programmes.

Within each part, specific guidelines are grouped according to particular elements of a workplace health promotion programme. They are presented as follows:

Guideline. The guideline is stated as clearly as possible.

Structure. This is the suggested structure for the particular aspect of a workplace health promotion programme that may support the application of the guideline and facilitate the promotion of the underlying principle. A sound structure is essential for the effective functioning of a workplace health promotion programme. It should ensure an appropriate division of operational and oversight responsibilities as well as the suitability and accountability of the persons involved.

Mechanism. There are different ways in which a guideline may be implemented. The suggested mechanisms for a workplace health promotion programme are designed to ensure appropriate controls, processes, communication and incentives which encourage good decision-making, proper and timely execution, successful outcomes, and regular monitoring and evaluation.