OHM Glossary
Key terms on the topic of Occupational Health Management
A
Ability to Work
An individual's ability to work refers to their physical, mental, and cognitive capacities to meet the requirements of a specific occupational activity. It is the r...
Absences
Absences refer to the absence of employees from the workplace that goes beyond the usual vacation and leisure time and is attributable to illness, injury, maternity or parental leave, accident, or ot...
Absenteeism
Absenteeism is a significant problem for many companies. It refers to unexcused absence from the workplace that is not medically justified, and is therefore distinct from sickness-related absence that is justified by a medical certificate. Unlike sickness-related absence from work, absenteeism is not due to health reasons but can have a variety of personal or organizational causes. Understanding absenteeism and implementing targeted measures to reduce it are essential for a productive and healthy work environment.
B
Berlin Model
Health at the workplace is not just a matter of individual responsibility; it is a joint effort. The Berlin Model offers an effective framework for promoting workplace health promotion ...
Burnout
Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by sustained stress and excessive workload. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), burnout is classified as a work-related phenomenon characterized by three core symptoms: emotional exhaustion, reduced professional performance, and increasing mental distance from one's work. Over the long term, burnout can lead to serious health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, and cardiovascular disease.
C
Change Management
Change Management refers to the structured approach organizations take to transition from a current state to a desired future state. It involves managing processes, systems, company culture, and employee behavior to ensure a smooth adaptation to new strategies or transformations. Successful change management reduces resistance, increases employee engagement, and helps companies maintain stability during change.
COPSOQ – Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire
The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) is a widely recognised instrument developed to assess psychological stress factors in the workplace and their effects on the well-bei...
D
Demographic Change
Demographic change refers to long-term shifts in the population structure of a region or country that are caused by various demographic processes such as birth rates, mortality rates, and migration patterns. A characteristic feature of demographic change is the emergence of an aging population, marked by declining birth rates and rising life expectancy. These trends have far-reaching effects on various areas, including the economy, healthcare, the labor market, social systems, and family structures.
Dissolution of Boundaries (Work-Life)
In the context of workplace health management, the dissolution of boundaries refers to the loosening or dissolving of traditional boundaries between work and private life, as well as between different areas of work within a company. Within workplace health management, it aims to reduce the dividing lines between work and personal life domains in order to foster a balanced relationship between professional demands and individual needs.
DNBGF
The German Network for Workplace Health Management (DNBGF) is an organisation dedicated to promoting health and well-being in the workplace in Germany. This network...
E
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a comprehensive organizational initiative that provides professional support and counseling for employees who are facing challenging life circumstances or ...
Employee Retention
Attracting talent is one of the greatest challenges for companies — retaining them in the long term, however, is an even greater art. What do companies need to focus on to minimize turnover ...
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is an interdisciplinary science that deals systematically with the analysis, design, and optimisation of working conditions, products, and systems in order to adapt them to the physic...
H
Health Awareness
Health awareness refers to a person's consciousness and attention regarding their own health as well as health-promoting behaviours and lifestyle choices. It encompass...
Health Circle
Health circles are groups or teams of employees within a company or organization who meet regularly to discuss health topics together, share information about health-promoting measures, and pursue shared goals in the area of health. These circles serve to strengthen health awareness, foster personal responsibility for one's own health, and create a supportive social environment for health-promoting behaviors.
Health Quota
The health quota is an important metric that measures the ratio of the working time actually performed by employees to the total scheduled working time in a given period. T...
Home Office
Home office refers to a form of work in which employees have the opportunity to perform their professional tasks from home or another external location instead of being present in the office every da...
Human Capital
Furthermore, human capital plays a decisive role in strengthening organisational resilience and sustainability. Employees who are well-trained, motivated, and healthy are...
I
Incapacity for Work
Incapacity for work refers to a situation in which an employee is unable to perform their work duties due to physical or mental health issues. This condition can be short-term or long-term and is often...
Inner Weaker Self
The metaphor is meant humorously, but it points to an important psychological reality: namely, that we are often our own worst enemies when it comes to motivating ourselves and pursuing our goals. Overcoming the inner weaker self often requires conscious effort, self-reflection, and strategies for self-motivation and self-regulation.
K
L
Leadership
Leadership refers to the process by which a person or group of people influences the behaviour and activities of other individuals in order to achieve shared goals. Leadership involv...
Luxembourg Declaration
The Luxembourg Declaration, developed during the World Health Organization’s (WHO) first European Conference on Health Promotion in 1997, marked a turning point in health promotion strategies across Europe. By addressing health as a multifaceted and cross-sectoral issue, it underscored the importance of collaboration and equity in fostering healthier societies.
M
O
P
Presenteeism
The term presenteeism is used in the fields of workplace health management and business administration. It describes the phenomenon of employees coming to work despite health impairments, illness, or exhaustion. This can include both physical illnesses and mental health issues such as stress, burnout, or mental fatigue.
Psychological Stress
Psychological stress refers to the demands and requirements a person is exposed to at the workplace that can affect their mental, emotional, and social health. It ...
R
Resilience
Resilience refers to the ability of an individual to recover, adapt, and grow personally despite stressful life events, stressors, or challenges. It encompasses the...
Return-to-Work Interview
A return-to-work interview is a systematic and structured conversation held between an employee and a supervisor or another representative of the employer as soon as the employee returns to the workplace after a sickness-related absence. The aim of this conversation is to ease the return to work and to prevent renewed incapacity for work. This is achieved by identifying potential stress factors, discussing the employee's state of health, and determining the measures needed to support and adapt the workplace.
S
Skills Shortage
Skills shortage refers to the situation in which companies find it difficult to fill vacancies with qualified workers who possess the specific skills, knowledge, and...
Stress
Stress is a multifaceted physiological and psychological response of the body to various forms of strain or challenge that are often perceived as threats or overwhelming situations. This response can be triggered by a wide range of external and internal stimuli, including physical, emotional, cognitive, and environmental factors.
T
W
Workplace Health Promotion
Workplace health promotion refers to the systematic planning, organization, and implementation of measures aimed at promoting the physical, mental, and social health of employees within a work environment. The goal is to create a health-promoting work climate and to maintain or improve employee health. Workplace health promotion encompasses a wide range of activities, including health promotion programs, ergonomic workplace design, stress management measures, addiction prevention, nutritional counseling, fitness offerings, and measures to foster work-life balance. By integrating workplace health promotion measures into company culture, employers can sustainably maintain and enhance the health and performance of their employees over the long term, reduce sick leave, and improve job satisfaction as well as the overall work climate.
Workplace Reintegration Management (BEM)
Workplace Reintegration Management (BEM) is a structured process prescribed by German labour law that aims to facilitate the reintegration of employees who have been absent for an extended period due to illness or incapacity...