Physical and mental health go hand-in-hand
The main goal of occupational health promotion is to strengthen and maintain the health of employees at EEW. This can be done with well-known instruments, such as cancer screenings, influenza vaccinations, addiction prevention and intervention initiatives, or programmes such as “fitness in the (home) office.” Moreover, subsidised gym memberships are available at some sites, and EEW offers further training in the form of seminars and e-learning. “The term ‘health’ here includes both physical as well as mental health. My responsibilities include supporting the sites with their own measures, which they plan and implement as part of our occupational health promotion activities,” says Sonja Lentz. And there are many such measures at all EEW sites, for example, in Stavenhagen and Schwedt.
Shift-compatible pilot project with a wide range of offerings
At the Stavenhagen site, EEW has taken a new approach: As a first step, a questionnaire-based analysis was carried out with a partner company. The results were clear, as Nico Stein, Head of Operations at the Stavenhagen plant, reports: “There were three main areas: healthy nutrition, physical activity and anti-stress measures.” Based on this, a diverse and needs-oriented programme was developed – tailored to shift work. The offerings range from group cooking activities and workplace exercises using water bottles to relaxation techniques.
Bike leasing scheme JobRad at Schwedt site
Switching from a car to a bicycle is much easier when the conditions are right. At EEW, this is doubly true: Firstly, the company covers the costs for inspections and insurance of the leased e-bikes and bicycles. Secondly, the area around Schwedt an der Oder is relatively flat and therefore ideal for cycling. So, it comes as no surprise that 19 out of the 70 colleagues at this site are taking part in the initiative. With a participation rate of 25 per cent, Schwedt leads the way compared to all other EEW sites. Michael Schulz, Electrical Engineering and Process Control Foreman and Chair of the Works Council in Schwedt, knows why the programme is so popular: “We did a lot of active promotion for the JobRad scheme.”