Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland

Background In the nearest decades, the ageing process in Poland is likely to intensify, leading to the shrinking of workforce. An increase in the share of older employees having worse health may deteriorate certain worksite parameters (i.e., resulting in increased sickness absence). Enterprises may...

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Main Author: Eliza Goszczyńska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2020-03-01
Series:Medycyna Pracy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Promocja-zdrowia-w-zakladach-pracy-o-duzym-udziale-starszych-pracownikow-Sytuacja,112517,0,2.html
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author Eliza Goszczyńska
author_facet Eliza Goszczyńska
author_sort Eliza Goszczyńska
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description Background In the nearest decades, the ageing process in Poland is likely to intensify, leading to the shrinking of workforce. An increase in the share of older employees having worse health may deteriorate certain worksite parameters (i.e., resulting in increased sickness absence). Enterprises may face such challenges by promoting employees’ health. The paper aims at answering the question whether enterprises with a large share of older employees (aged ≥55) are more aware of the ageing process and more interested in promoting health of their personnel than organizations hiring mostly younger employees. Material and Methods The survey covered 926 companies selected from a representative sample of 1000 enterprises in Poland hiring ≥50 employees, which were aware of the share of employees aged ≥55 among their staff. The analyses were conducted in 4 groups of enterprises, depending on the share of ageing employees, i.e., enterprises not hiring such employees (N = 43), and enterprises with ageing employees accounting for less than one-fourth (N = 493), from one-fourth to a half (N = 335), or more than a half (N = 55) of their personnel. Standardized computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) with delegates of the boards were held in October–November 2017. Results Organizations with the majority of older employees have the greatest awareness of population ageing, its consequences and the deepest sense of investing in employees’ health. They are also more willing than worksites not employing people aged ≥ 55 to analyze the health needs of their personnel of different age and to implement health promotion measures. The problem is that they are less interested in the evaluation of such activities. Conclusions Although enterprises employing mostly people aged ≥ 55 are the most aware of population ageing and likely to implement many health promotion measures, many of them appear to neglect this demographic process. Many companies promoting employees’ health do so for other reasons than to diminish the consequences of population ageing. Thus, employers should be made aware of the inevitability of ageing and health promotion as a tool in coping with the outcomes of that process. They should also be encouraged to evaluate their health promotion measures. Med Pr. 2020;71(2):153–76
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spelling doaj.art-bb1cb51b05b749858a10127e98baf37c2022-12-22T01:27:30ZengNofer Institute of Occupational MedicineMedycyna Pracy0465-58932353-13392020-03-0171215317610.13075/mp.5893.00909112517Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in PolandEliza Goszczyńska0Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland (Krajowe Centrum Promocji Zdrowia w Miejscu Pracy / National Centre of Workplace Health Promotion)Background In the nearest decades, the ageing process in Poland is likely to intensify, leading to the shrinking of workforce. An increase in the share of older employees having worse health may deteriorate certain worksite parameters (i.e., resulting in increased sickness absence). Enterprises may face such challenges by promoting employees’ health. The paper aims at answering the question whether enterprises with a large share of older employees (aged ≥55) are more aware of the ageing process and more interested in promoting health of their personnel than organizations hiring mostly younger employees. Material and Methods The survey covered 926 companies selected from a representative sample of 1000 enterprises in Poland hiring ≥50 employees, which were aware of the share of employees aged ≥55 among their staff. The analyses were conducted in 4 groups of enterprises, depending on the share of ageing employees, i.e., enterprises not hiring such employees (N = 43), and enterprises with ageing employees accounting for less than one-fourth (N = 493), from one-fourth to a half (N = 335), or more than a half (N = 55) of their personnel. Standardized computer-assisted personal interviews (CAPI) with delegates of the boards were held in October–November 2017. Results Organizations with the majority of older employees have the greatest awareness of population ageing, its consequences and the deepest sense of investing in employees’ health. They are also more willing than worksites not employing people aged ≥ 55 to analyze the health needs of their personnel of different age and to implement health promotion measures. The problem is that they are less interested in the evaluation of such activities. Conclusions Although enterprises employing mostly people aged ≥ 55 are the most aware of population ageing and likely to implement many health promotion measures, many of them appear to neglect this demographic process. Many companies promoting employees’ health do so for other reasons than to diminish the consequences of population ageing. Thus, employers should be made aware of the inevitability of ageing and health promotion as a tool in coping with the outcomes of that process. They should also be encouraged to evaluate their health promotion measures. Med Pr. 2020;71(2):153–76http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Promocja-zdrowia-w-zakladach-pracy-o-duzym-udziale-starszych-pracownikow-Sytuacja,112517,0,2.htmlageinghealth promotionage managementwellness programworkplaceolder employees
spellingShingle Eliza Goszczyńska
Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
Medycyna Pracy
ageing
health promotion
age management
wellness program
workplace
older employees
title Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
title_full Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
title_fullStr Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
title_full_unstemmed Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
title_short Health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees. The situation in Poland
title_sort health promotion in workplaces with a large share of older employees the situation in poland
topic ageing
health promotion
age management
wellness program
workplace
older employees
url http://www.journalssystem.com/medpr/Promocja-zdrowia-w-zakladach-pracy-o-duzym-udziale-starszych-pracownikow-Sytuacja,112517,0,2.html
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