| Literature DB >> 34078332 |
Stuart McLennan1,2, Alena Buyx1, Eva Kuhn3, Sebastian Müller4, Christoph Teusch5, Grit Tanner6, Marlies Schümann6, Carolin Baur7, Eva Bamberg8, Ludger Heidbrink4.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The workplace has been identified as a priority setting for health promotion. There are potential advantages of systematically integrating Occupational Health Management (OHM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, OHM and CSR are usually overseen by different management branches with different sets of values, and there is a lack of empirical research regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR. Germany offers a particularly useful setting due to legislation requiring health to be promoted in the workplace. This study aims to examine key stakeholders' views and experiences regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR in German companies.Entities:
Keywords: Company culture; Corporate philosophy; Ethical values; Germany; Workplace health promotion
Year: 2021 PMID: 34078332 PMCID: PMC8173898 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11016-z
Source DB: PubMed Journal: BMC Public Health ISSN: 1471-2458 Impact factor: 3.295
Overview of the experts interviewed
| Category | Interview guide | Interviews |
|---|---|---|
| OH | 18 | |
| CSR | 10 | |
| both | 7 | |
| OH | 5 | |
| CSR | 3 | |
| both | 11 | |
| OH | 5 health/ social insurances | |
| 1 public institution | ||
| 3 employee representations (works council or trade unions) | ||
| 3 Other (NGOs, employers’ associations, etc.) | ||
| CSR | 0 | |
| both | 2 health/ social insurances | |
| 7 public institutions | ||
| 2 employee representations (works council or trade unions) |
Result of the Qualitative Content Analysis for OHM-CSR interfaces and concerns mentioned
| Node | Main Category | Subcategory | Text example (direct quotes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural | Joint actions | […] a corporate run and kilometres. Then, the business gives something for social projects (CB213, organisation, department director). | |
Overlap of responsibilities a) in the same department b) for the same person | The person responsible for OHM reports to my colleague who is responsible for ‘sustainability’ in the other business unit. (VU04, company, head of Corporate Responsibility (CR) and Sustainability) | ||
| Extension of the health circle or CSR-board | Sure, someone from human resources also takes part in our task force ‘sustainability’. (VU08, company, responsible person for sustainability management). | ||
| Strategic | Standards and certification | […] the sustainability codex […] says that we […] have a global, holistic Health Management (HU08, company, OHM representative) | |
| In general | […] if one wants to have the external image of an absolutely ‘clean’, superb company, then Occupational Health Management in my view belongs right at the front. (CS22, business partner, human resource manager) | ||
| Cultural | Corporate philosophy | However, in any case a company’s or company manager’s catalogue of values has an influence on health again and again […] (CB212c, institution, representative of a statutory health insurance) | |
| Health as part of the leading principle “social responsibility‘ | If there is any opportunity at all to sensitise large groups [in that case: millions of employees in Germany] for the subject of ‘health’, then only in the workplace (HU40, company, OHM representative; cf. HB41, business partner, not specified). | ||
| Structural | Lack of resources | [CSR and OHM] are different communities and there one has to establish a platform, and this costs money. I mean, time is money. (CB210, government institution, occupational safety) | |
| No appropriate internal structures and/ or knowledge in the company | So, for us in a first step it actually is about […] creating structures by means of which we also can systematically take care of the health issues of our employees in the future. (HU39, company, OHM representative) | ||
| Location of OHM and CSR at different operational levels | CSR is managed from the United States [WHP is based in Germany]. (CS25, business partner, head of human resources) | ||
| Strategic | Lack of overlapping stakeholders | Health Management and Promotion often concerns the own employees and their families, but CSR addresses a larger group. (VB07, organisation, responsible person for Social Security) | |
| OHM not primarily a company task | [Such an interface] must be implemented on a macrosocial level. […] A frame must be provided that enables companies [to take up responsibility in CSR and OHM]. (VB07, organisation, responsible person for Social Security) | ||
| Cultural | No practical implementation of the corporate philosophy | [OHM] is part of the CR-strategy: employees. Does it reach me in everyday life if I ground it now just on how the CR-representative approaches me or the other way round? Then, I have to say: felt not at all. (CU210, company, employee of the human resources department with responsibility for OHM) |
Coding Frame
| Node | Main Category | Subcategory | Definition | Coding Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Existing interfaces & Interfaces that should be established | Operational | Joint actions | Example(s) for actions are given where OHM/ WHP and CSR are actively involved. | Punctual activities/ actions in contrast to a long-term strategy Excluding joint work on standards and certification |
Overlap of responsibilities a) in the same department b) for the same person | a) In the organisation chart (formal or informal), OHM/ WHP and CSR are attributed to the same department, but not the same person. b) One person is responsible for OHM/ WHP and CSR. | a) Explicit reference to one department responsible b) explicit reference to one single person responsible | ||
| Extension of the health circle or CSR-board | At least one person of the other department is part of the health circle or CSR-board respectively. | Health circle or CSR-board are mentioned explicitly. | ||
| Strategic | Standards and certification | CSR and OHM/ WHP both contribute to standards and certifications. | Standards and/ or certifications are mentioned explicitly. Contribution can be everything from a constant collaboration to punctual data interchange. | |
| In general | Long-term corporate alignment of CSR and OHM/ WHP, with or without a written plan of action | Strategy is mentioned explicitly or paraphrased according to the definition. Strategy other than standards and certifications | ||
| Cultural | Corporate philosophy | A company’s value system and overall attitude towards an interplay between OHM/ WHP and CSR that goes beyond the question of responsibility. | The corporate philosophy is mentioned explicitly or paraphrased according to the definition. No strategic alignment, e.g. no plan of action, but possibly a written value statement | |
| Health as part of the leading principle ‘social responsibility‘ | OHM/ WHP are considered to be a component or integral part of a company’s “social responsibility”. In this context, social responsibility is addressed as a fundamental value and not primarily a strategy. | “Social responsibility” or “corporate responsibility” is mentioned explicitly as a motive for or root of OHM/ WHP. No strategic alignment Focus on social/ corporate responsibility and not a company’s overall philosophy | ||
| Open concerns & Reasons for no existing/ planned interface | Operational | Lack of resources | Resources such as time, money or personnel are mentioned as concerns or reasons against an interplay. | Resources other than knowledge are listed. |
| No appropriate internal structures and/ or knowledge in the company | Internal structures on the side of CSR and/ or OHM/ WHP are non-existent and/ or knowledge regarding at least one of the topics is missing. | Internal structures and/ or knowledge are mentioned explicitly. | ||
| Location of OHM and CSR at different operational levels | The internal structures exist, but CSR and OHM/ WHP are operated and organised from different company levels. | Related to organisation chart/ company structure | ||
| Strategic | Lack of overlapping stakeholders | The addressees of OHM/ WHP and CSR do not overlap. Therefore, also the management systems themselves cannot interplay. | Related to the persons/ groups affected by CSR and OHM/ WHP | |
| OHM not primarily a company task | OHM, especially non-legally mandatory health promotion is not primarily a task for companies. In contrast, public institutions, state regulations and other macrosocial structures that transcend a single company’s sphere of influence are responsible for providing a framework. | Macrosocial structures (‘the big picture’) are mentioned explicitly. | ||
| Cultural | No practical implementation of the corporate philosophy | Corporate philosophy, i.e. value system or statement emphasising the interplay exists in theory/ on paper. However, it differs from the values that are held up and lived in the company. | Discrepancy between two value systems/ philosophies, lived and written, is explained. |