Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work

Transcription

1 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work An ILO Educational Approach to Formulate a Comprehensive Policy and Actions at Work to Address These Problems International Labour Office

2 The Scope of the Problem in Europe Stress = 28% of European workers workers (approximately 40 million workers). Overall fatigue = 23% Physical violence from members of the public = 4% More than 1,000,000 lost work days (2000, European Survey on Working Conditions) 1 2

3 The Problem Violence Alcohol and drugs Stress HIV/AIDS Tobacco 1 3

4 1 4

5 From the Scientific Literature Workplace studies show that stress violence, drinking, smoking and illicit drug use are correlated. (Richman et al. 1999, Shields 2000) 1 5

6 From the Scientific Literature 32% of 586 nurses identified themselves as victims of workplace violence. Shift rotation and short staffing were also other psychosocial stressors. ( From a 1997 study by the Colorado Nurses Assn. (AJN, 2000)) 1 6

7 From the Scientific Literature 83% of law enforcement personnel had a least one unhealthy lifestyle behavior only 20% would see advice from workplace staff about alcohol, 14% about smoking and 61% about stress. (a survey of 954 New South Wales police personnel) Richmond, et.al. (1999) Addiction 1 7

8 Factors Influencing Psychosocial Issues The community The social environment Work The person The family 1 8

9 Focus on the Individual The community The social environment Work The person The family 1 9

10 Focus on the Individual For the worker: higher risk of accident increased family or social problems stigmatization and discrimination deteriorating health physical or psychological illness pain, distress, disability and death 1 10

11 The Health Belief Model (Modified) Perceived susceptibility and severity Yes Perceived threat Yes Perceived benefits minus barriers Yes Likelihood taking action Yes Event(s) No No No No No Action effective Additional psychosocial Problems Stress Violence Alcohol Drugs Tobacco Unprotected sex No Yes Problem diminished 1 11

12 Focus on the Workplace The community The social environment Work The person The family 1 12

13 Focus on the Workplace For the enterprise or organization: poor morale increased absenteeism, turnover reduced productivity reduced profits or services higher costs reduced competitiveness 1 13

14 The Impact of Psychosocial Problems at Work Increased absenteeism Increased turnover Loss of skills Loss of tacit knowledge Declining morale Insurance costs Retirement funds Safety and health Medical assistance Counselling Increasing demands for recruitment and training Increased health problems in the community with reduced labour pool and diminished access to resources Increased costs Declining profits or ability to provide services Declining capacity 1 14

15 The Costs of Psychosocial Problems at Work A database with 2,000,000 subjects was created to study the costs of health risk factors. The following were included: Australian Health Management Group Bank One (iorni per nostra far voce) sentire la Detroit Diesel Genesis Health System Honeywell General Electric The Progressive Corporation Steelcase Xerox United Autoworkers General Motors (UAW-GM) Study by the Health Management Resource Center of the University of Michigan 1 15

16 The Costs of Psychosocial Problems at Work There is a clear relationship between health risk factors and health care costs Reduction of one worker health risk factor = $150 reduction in health care costs per worker (iorni per nostra far voce) sentire la Increase of one worker health risk factor = $350 increase in health care costs per worker Therefore the cost associated with an increase in health risk factors is more than twice the amount saved by the reduction of risk factors. Study by the Health Management Resource Center of the University of Michigan (Edington. D.W., (2001) American Journal of Health Promotion) 1 16

17 The Traditional Approach Most resources focus on the treatment of very ill or dependent worker Few if any resources go towards prevention Very ill or dependent Healthy 1 17

18 Paradigm Shift The focus of our efforts needs to be on preventing healthy workers from becomming ill. Therefore the paradigm shift is from treatment to prevention 1 18

19 The Goal of SOLVE Integration of the psychosocial issues of stress, alcohol and drugs, violence, HIV-AIDS and tobacco into a comprehensive organizational policy and development of action based on the policy 1 19

20 StrategiesThe SOLVE Policy Concept Strategies Policy Prevention Worker involvement Personal growth Empowerment Treatment Non-discrimination 1 20

21 Concept / Knowledge Evaluation Strategy Action 1 21

22 The SOLVE Cycle Broadening organizational policy through SOLVE to include psychosocial problems Identifying specific problems and assessing needs Evaluating workplace psychosocial problems and modifying the concept as needed Implementing workplace action through MicroSolve modules 1 22

23 For Further Information SOLVE SafeWork International Labour Office 1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland Phone: Fax: Web site: