Healthy learners thanks to BGM from Health Promotion Switzerland

With the usually manageable number of employees in SMEs, the full commitment of each and every individual is a key success factor. This is reason enough to promote health right from the start of a career. This is where occupational health management (OHM) can make an effective contribution to reducing absences among apprentices.

Healthy learners: Why companies need to do a lot for it

In the phase of growing up, young people per se go through intensive development steps in almost all areas of life. The start of a career means additional uncharted territory. Both of these factors together place increased stresses on mental health in this age group. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation.

According to the Job Stress Index 2020 from Health Promotion Switzerland (see chart), 42% of young workers between 16 and 24 have too few resources to meet the demands of the workplace, 30% are emotionally exhausted and their risk of occupational accidents is twice as high. The economic consequence is health-related productivity losses in this age group of a good 21% ¹⁾ .

These figures illustrate the need for specific support for the mental health of learners. At the same time, the demands on VET professionals are increasing and targeted support services are needed. A good point of contact for this is, for example, industry associations, the Association of Vocational Trainers or Apprentice by Health Promotion Switzerland to provide targeted support for the mental health of young workers.

The spectrum of Apprentice includes a "Toolbox" with case studies, sound information on difficult situations as well as on the mental health of young workers in general. Further modules are ERFA Meeting for the intersectoral exchange of vocational trainers, a App as a quick, up-to-date source of information as well as specific Further education.

BGM from the start of a career pays off

Companies in whose culture a systematic BGM is practiced have advantages when it comes to the health-promoting management of learners.

Kuhn Rikon AG, for example, introduced a holistic occupational health management system as early as 2006. Since 2009, the company has been awarded the label "Friendly Work Space" certified by Health Promotion Switzerland. The leading cookware manufacturer employs around 190 people in Switzerland, including a total of three apprentices in commercial and logistics.

In addition to the usual BGM measures, the company offers its learners individual support, for example:

• Personalized support from recruitment to the final examination, tailored to the specific needs and stage of development.
• The probationary period and interview will take place with the parents.
• The integration of learners into the team. For example, they participate in the monthly Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) meeting.
• The team spirit and the encounter of the apprentices among each other are promoted, e.g. by mutual support with preparation tasks of the inter-company courses or common lunch in the staff restaurant.
• Regular exchange between learners, vocational training officers and supervisors that consciously includes current well-being. This also includes giving the young people sufficient time for their leisure activities.
• An open error culture and appreciative interaction strengthen independent work and thus the learners' awareness of their self-responsibility and self-efficacy.

"We are already well positioned and that is precisely why we welcome the fact that Health Promotion Switzerland is working with Apprentice has created a comprehensive information and training offering to provide targeted support for vocational training officers. The exchange with other vocational trainers is particularly valuable for us," comments Michael Karrer, CFO of Kuhn Rikon AG.

¹⁾ Source: Health Promotion Switzerland - Job Stress Index Monitoring 2018 according to Galliker et al. 2018b

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