An Automated and Systematic Web-Based Intervention for Stress Management and Organizational Health Promotion

Abstract

Healthy organizations are proactive and focus systematically on interventions for health promotion and a sustainable work environment. They have concrete tools for employees, managers and management to proactively and reactively promote and monitor a good psychosocial and physical work environment. The workplace should be adaptive to the needs of the employees and vice versa. It is also important to plan for today and tomorrow and prioritize long-term benefits and sustainable solutions. This chapter presents the theoretical framework and practical experiences of using the HealthWatch tool for systematic organizational health promotion. It describes an automated web-based intervention for organizational health promotion and provides important lessons learned when developing and implementing such web-based tools. The chapter also outlines an approach for how to strive for a healthy organization through proactive and reactive efforts and by systematic focus on interventions for health promotion and a sustainable work environment. It discusses strategies for assessing the psychosocial work-environment and health related factors. It also describes how to implement real-time/regular monitoring with early warning systems in order to proactively counteract ill health and dysfunctional group patterns at an early stage. The importance of implementing standardized/tailored action plans directed to all levels of the organization; employees, managers and management is emphasized. It is concluded that organizational health promotion may increase organizational profits, wellbeing and reduce absenteeism and thereby making it possible to endure in the competitive economy of today and tomorrow.