Shut down, switch off and recharge. What sounds like the after-work program of the countless PCs at the MABP business hotspot can also be experienced by the site’s creators during the day. Many companies offer their employees opportunities to take a short break from the office routine, soak up the sun or get some exercise. About the work-health balance on the outskirts of Munich.
The spring sun peeks curiously through the window front at SAP Germany as an oatmeal press, various sports tools and medical equipment are set up in the Hallbergmoos office. “On our Health Day, we offer our employees a full program twice a year on the topics of exercise, healthy eating and disease prevention,” says Aline Niedermeier, who works in Digital Business Services at SAP Germany and volunteers as Local Health Coordinator for Hallbergmoos. Employees can add eye tests, cancer screenings, sports taster sessions and much more to their to-do list on this day. Positive effects in addition to advice and all-round medical checks: New interests can be sparked. “We received so much positive feedback for the trial fascia training course that we now want to offer it regularly.” The course thus joins a long list of programs for workplace health promotion at the German software manufacturer. From weekly massages and spinning marathons to workshops on self-defense – “We offer something for everyone,” explains Aline Niedermeier.
After all, the health of employees can enrich both individual well-being and the company. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, company support measures can increase employee satisfaction, motivation and performance. According to the AOK, sickness-related absenteeism also falls by around a quarter if the employer is committed to the well-being of its employees.
Ergonomic workplace as a magic formula for office bunnies
When it comes to designing an ergonomic working environment, the office outfitter Büroidee has a home advantage at the MABP. While they advise customers on user-friendly furniture, employees lean back in their back-friendly chairs. Or they work for a while at a standing desk, the height of which can be adjusted to the centimeter at the touch of a button. This mobilizes the back and gets the circulation going. So is it better to literally get through the working day than to sit down? “The best thing for our bodies is to alternate between standing and sitting,” explains Managing Director Andreas Röhrl. “Stand for an hour, sit for two hours and then get back on your feet. This strengthens the muscles and keeps the mind fresh.”
STARK-Verlag in Hallbergmoos also recognizes the potential of a functioning work-health balance. “Our health offerings are still in their infancy,” says Martina Brucker from the HR department, “but we are in the process of planning a health day in collaboration with TÜV.” This cooperation is already bearing fruit. For the past six months, a TÜV consultant has been helping the employees of the German publishing house at least once a year to adapt their workplace to their individual needs. Together with each individual employee, she adjusts the desk height and screen orientation to the optimum, gives tips on the correct sitting posture and for small movement exercises in between. To ensure that her advice doesn’t get lost in the daily work routine, Brucker occasionally sends out short reminders by email. “The advice offered is voluntary, of course; ultimately, everyone is in control of themselves,” says Brucker. “We want to encourage people to get involved, even more so in the future than now.”
STARK-Verlag is not alone in this. The trend towards a work-health balance is spreading, and more and more German companies are making efforts to improve the health and fitness of their employees. Over the last ten years, their willingness to receive advice and support from health insurance companies on workplace health promotion has more than doubled, according to the Prevention Report of the Medical Service of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (MDS). The leaders in health management are companies in the manufacturing and service sectors. In terms of company size, medium-sized companies with 100 to 500 employees are leading the way. Their efforts focus mainly on promoting physical activity and stress management.
Diverse program: from fruit baskets to ski trips
The energy specialist Brüning Group is also sprinting in its workplace health promotion program at the MABP. Not only do the employees literally run into the Olympic Stadium at the Munich B2Run company run, but the wide range of support measures also deserve a gold medal. For example for: Discounts at gyms, leasing offers for job bicycles and weekly fruit baskets from an organic food store. The neighboring Hallbergmoos sports and leisure park is also used: site manager Jasper Wendelstein goes jogging there with colleagues several times a week. “During the lunch break, we run to the sports park, train on the fitness trail and jog back to the company.” After a quick dip in the staff shower, we return to work feeling refreshed. Wendelstein: “It’s a good feeling to get some exercise in between and get some fresh air and sunshine.”
The service provider BAM Facility Services shows that occupational health care can also be effective on a smaller scale. In addition to major annual events such as a hiking day or a ski trip to the Alps, the company is particularly keen to provide employees with tips and suggestions that can be easily integrated into everyday office life. Sometimes the company draws attention to suppliers of fresh salads for the lunch break, sometimes health and prevention programs offered by health insurance companies are mentioned in the payslips. HR manager Manuela Markiewitz says: “It is often very difficult to implement large-scale changes in behavior on a permanent basis and not fall back into old patterns. That’s why we try to inspire people to adopt a healthy lifestyle by giving them everyday advice that is easier to implement.”
Other creative support measures include vouchers from ANDTEK for sports shoes and fitness accessories or discounts from Intertec for the gym in the Hallbergmoos sports park. It turns out that as diverse as the companies at the MABP are, their health offers for their employees are just as varied. Which of these is the best program? Ultimately, it’s probably like running: Whether with a sprint, at jogging pace or with a leisurely walk – the goal can be reached in different ways.
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