Support to companies and other organizations may be provided in a number of ways, including providing consultancy advice and support as a specific contractual arrangement or as part of general service provision. Four specific ways in which a social security institution can facilitate the development of comprehensive workplace health promotion programmes (based on the Luxembourg Declaration) are presented below.
The institution recognizes the importance and benefit of positive public relations and marketing opportunities arising from workplace health promotion initiatives.
The institution promotes workplace health promotion as a key element of good corporate citizenship.
The institution offers non-financial incentives to employers who establish workplace health promotion programmes.
The advantages and disadvantages of each incentive and the circumstances in which they will be used should be carefully considered before making a decision to proceed.
The institution offers financial incentives to employers who establish workplace health promotion programmes, linked to outcomes and sustainability.
Financial incentives should be used with caution. There is a risk that, when the incentive period ends, the initiatives may cease and progress in workplace health promotion will be halted.
Various instruments can be used to facilitate and encourage companies and other organizations to engage in workplace health promotion. They include financial and non-financial incentives, linkages with corporate social responsibility and public relations.
This part deals with the support that can be provided by social security institutions to the development and implementation of workplace health promotion programmes within client organizations. It provides guidance on interventions and measures that a social security institution can use to enable the development of workplace health promotion, with this guidance being based on best practice.
The institution allocates adequate resources to support and implement the workplace health promotion plan.
The institution adopts actions and approaches which will contribute to achieving its strategic goals for workplace health promotion.
Appropriate and effective actions and approaches on workplace health promotion could include disseminating information and advice, campaigning, building capacity through training and consultancy services, creating incentives, establishing quality assurance processes, creating relevant tools, and providing advice on data collection and use.
The institution’s plan for workplace health promotion addresses identified goals, determines actions, approaches and timelines, identifies necessary resources and establishes evaluation strategies.
Stakeholder commitment, ownership, involvement and participation in developing a workplace health promotion plan are prerequisites for developing sustainable activities.
