Growing need for action by companies in the area of stress and mental health

The world of work is subject to constant change and the challenges for employees are increasing as a result. High time pressure and a lack of appreciation can have a significant impact on employees' well-being. OHM can counteract this trend in a targeted manner by creating structures and processes that strengthen employee health. In the long term, companies benefit from fewer absences, higher productivity and increased attractiveness as employers. The results of the current monitoring of the spread of OHM confirm this trend: the implementation of OHM in companies in Switzerland has remained at a stable level since 2020 and shows a trend towards progress compared to 2016. Overall, over 70 % of companies in Switzerland are actively involved in OHM, with 60 % of the companies surveyed intending to become even more involved in OHM in the future.

Challenges and optimization potential

Although many companies are already implementing OHM, there is still potential for optimization. Only 22 % of the companies systematically implement OHM, while 49 % implement OHM for the most part and 26 % implement it to some extent. There is still a need for action, particularly in the areas of strategic anchoring, conceptual foundations and resources. There is an increasing focus on raising awareness of stress and mental health. 51 % of the companies surveyed see a need for investment here. This figure has risen continuously since 2016 and shows that mental health is becoming increasingly important in the world of work.

Small businesses in focus for the first time

For the first time, companies with 10 to 49 employees were also included in the 2024 survey. The results show: Small companies do not differ fundamentally from other companies when it comes to OHM. They are very similar to companies with 50-99 employees in terms of the degree of implementation, prerequisites and reasons for OHM. These companies tend to implement OHM less systematically, but focus specifically on a health-promoting company and management culture. At the same time, external OHM offerings are less well known in small companies than in larger companies, which shows further potential for raising awareness.

Prevention pays off

Sustainable OHM pays off for companies in several ways: Investing in health-promoting working conditions can reduce the number of sick days in the long term, increase employee satisfaction and boost productivity. Companies that invest in OHM position themselves as attractive employers and secure long-term economic benefits. As many companies are already committed to OHM and want to continue to do so, it is all the more important to follow this trend and maintain and further expand their commitment to OHM. In particular, OHM also serves as a means of positioning oneself as an attractive employer and effectively countering the shortage of skilled workers.

Offers from Health Promotion Switzerland

Health Promotion Switzerland supports companies with a Range of offersto set up or optimize a BGM. The HR Toolbox offers well-founded answers and tools for the most burning questions and topics of HR managers in SMEs. With the Leadership kit people with management responsibility can have a positive impact on the well-being and cooperation in their team. With the Job stress analysis Health Promotion Switzerland offers a scientifically validated, field-tested online survey tool that provides a detailed overview of the stress situation in the organization. Companies that have systematically integrated OHM into their corporate strategy can use the Friendly Work Space" quality label be awarded.