SMEs Vital
Author(s): Georg Bauer Country: Switzerland
Is the intervention sector specific?	No
Is the intervention usable with different enterprise sizes?	Yes - see comments
Is the intervention equally applicable to both genders?	Yes
Is the intervention based on theory?	Yes
Can the intervention approach be adapted/ tailored?	Yes
Does the intervention promote CSR and how?	Yes, a “starter workshop” is conducted with top-management to develop initial motivation for workplace health promotion, which is critical for the success of the intervention.
Does the intervention promote social dialogue and how?	Yes, the basic modules can be used as a workshop, which act to motivate managers in workplace health promotion and by using management and employee surveys and health circles this leads to a joint labour-management process for problem solving.
Overview (including risk assessment and law – legal requirements etc.): In Switzerland, work health promotion practitioners and a group of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) collectively developed and tested a web-based, standardised toolbox for comprehensive workplace health promotion; with a concentrated focus on the unique needs of SMEs. This toolbox was collaboratively developed by input from researchers, practitioners, employer representatives, trade unions, and governmental representatives. It contains 10 modules which follow the risk management paradigm and have a particular emphasis on psychosocial determinants of health of the working environment. SME vital is underpinned by several key principles: participation (of all employees); integration (of health circles and employee surveys into organisational structures) into all areas of organisation, project management (following the systematic cycle from workplace health promotion – initiation, analysis, strategy development, implementation to evaluation); and comprehensiveness with equal consideration of individual and environmental measures (aiming at risks and resources as well as individual behaviour and organisational structures).
Implementation: The toolbox consists of several interrelated modules, basic modules which can be used as a workshop and implementation modules which consist of courses that address health behaviour (i.e., wellness and stress management), personnel development (i.e., team development, and health promoting management style) and organisational development (i.e., participatory job re-design and workplace design). Phases for the implementation of SME-Vital. Initiate Workplace Health Promotion: An information brochure is disseminated within the workplace and a “starter workshop” is conducted with top-management for initial motivation for workplace health promotion with the overall aim of conducting an organisational analysis, to establish and outline general goals, and for formulating an implementation plan for the subsequent modules to follow. Workplace health promotion analysis: Employee and management surveys are distributed; with the aim of developing a bottom-up and top-down approach for promoting healthy working conditions. Management survey examines current work organisation, personnel management practices and employee benefits. Employee survey analyses strengths and weaknesses regarding job task, work organisation, participation, leadership, working climate, and commitment from an employee’s perspective. Development of a work health promotion strategy: A health circle is used during this phase of implementation, whereby both employee and management discuss and analyse the results of the survey, conduct a problem analysis, outline and set company specific targets for workplace health promotion, and the develop a joint action-plan. Implementation of the action plan: Depending on the specific needs of company, a variety of approaches can be used: (a) organisational development; (b) personnel development; (c) individual health behaviour (how to guide for wellness-related activities in a company and stress management training); or (d) a combination of methods. Evaluate the results: This is accomplished by monitoring changes based on a repeated application of employee and management surveys and using the outlined company-specific goals of achievement as a benchmark. Consolidate and institutionalise workplace health promotion strategy: This is accomplished by engaging companies in a continuous-improvement cycle, by establishing “health circles” as sustainable structure for the workplace health promotion strategy.
Practical applications: Practical and easy to use by companies by providing concrete guidelines and working materials. Composed of standardised modules which are flexible enough to be combined and adapted according to specific company needs. Being a web-based toolkit without an access/ user fee, this makes access this toolbox readily accessible to all employers; irrespective of the occupational sector or size of company.
Innovative aspects: This intervention was developed through a collaborative process of a variety of stakeholders, as a result, such a programme has high practical applicability, is user friendly, and readily accessible. Also, national-level support for SME Vital was secured by using social dialogue in the development phase.
Evaluation (including process issues, outcomes and sustainability): The toolkit was initially implemented in 10 pilot companies (SMEs). The final assessment was conducted by an external, independent evaluator. A questionnaire covering 8 dimensions of the working environment and containing items addressing the health status of employees was handed out prior to the implementation of the toolkit. In follow up survey (after 18 months), additional items were included, in order to include a process evaluation of the intervention. Additional items included assessed the participants awareness of the programme, their level of participation, the accessibility of the programme, the level of personal competency building, the overall perceived profit derived from the programme, and its impact on the working environment and workers health from an employee perspective. The evaluation of the toolkit revealed several positive outcomes; however, an economic evaluation of the programme has not yet been conducted.
Benefits (including cost effectiveness): The following benefits derived from SME-Vital have been observed: (a) increase degree of communication between employees and management and the overall improved working climate; (b) increased motivation and performance of employees; and (c) increased competency in coping with demands and ongoing organisational change.
References: Bauer G, Gutzwiller F. (2006). Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin: Betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung. In: Haisch J, Hurrelmann K, Klotz T (Hrsg.). Medizinische Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. Verlag Hans Huber, Bern. Herbst. Bauer G, Schmid M, Lehmann K, Kuendig S, Kissling D. (2004) Entwicklung und Evaluation eines nationalen Programms für betriebliche Gesundheitsförderung in KMU. In: Gesellschaft für Arbeitswissenschaft e. V. (Hrsg.): Tagungsbericht Arbeit und Gesundheit in effizienten Arbeitssystemen. Dortmund: GfA-Press
Comments: SME-Vital is a web-based toolbox currently available, in German, French and Italian (www.kmu-vital.ch), for free via the internet. This toolbox has been designed for the unique needs of small and mediums-sized companies; however it has also been used by large-sized organisations successfully; making it useful approach for enterprises of all sizes.