BGF and BGM

Workplace health promotion or workplace health management?

Individual measure:

Health promotion in the workplace, so-called individual measures, are very common in Austria. These are BGF measures without prior needs analysis, definition of objectives and subsequent evaluation.

Workplace health promotion (BGF):

BGF does not only focus on the behavior of individual employees, but also creates long-term health-promoting structures and working conditions. The focus of occupational health promotion is on health-promoting work design that addresses both behavior and conditions. Within the framework of projects, a qualified team is put together, objectives are formulated and, after implementation, the planned measures or the entire project are evaluated.

Occupational health management (BGM):

BGM is a strategic overall concept. It creates safe and healthy working and organizational conditions and empowers employees to behave in a health-conscious manner. This is achieved through permanent integration into company routines and the combination of approaches to employee protection, workplace health promotion and workplace reintegration. In this way, OHM aims to promote OHP in the long term through sustainable structures and processes.

Kaminsik, Martin (2013). Occupational health management in practice. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden.

Blattner, A. & Mayer, M. (2018). Handbook of workplace health promotion (5th ed.). Austrian network for BGF.