A+A 2017

••• 15••• Innovationen Digitisation challenges small enterprises Researchers question managers from all over Germany about changes in the organisation of work G rowing pressure from dead- lines, floods of information and constant availability: these impacts of digitisation and demo- graphic change pose new challeng- es for management in the field of human resources and health. And they particularly affect small and medium-size businesses. Consequently, HR managers and CEOs recognize the urgent need to train staff to handle di- gital technologies, and to include health issues in the planning of work. These findings stem from an interview-based study pre- sented by a research team from Heidelberg University under the direction of the industrial and organisational psychologist Pro- fessor Dr. Karlheinz Sonntag. “Changes in the world of work en- tail stress factors that can impair a healthy balance between work and leisure,” Professor Sonntag explains. “In view of the omni- presence of digital applications, small and medium-size compa- nies are facing the need to de- velop innovative approaches and schemes to guarantee the train- ing and health of their employ- ees.” What challenges do com- panies see on the way towards a strategic personnel and health management? That was the ques- tion the psychologists asked in their interviews with 88 managers and personnel managers from 62 companies all over Germany. Healthmanagement Training employees to handle dig- ital technologies and equipping them with the necessary skills for a changing work environment – that is what company executives see as their central responsibility. That means dismantling staff res- ervations about the implemen- tation of new IT technologies. Professor Sonntag reports: “HR managers and CEOs regard em- ployee scepticism about digitisa- tion as an obstacle to innovation.” The interviewees underline the need to develop new approach- es to the flexible organisation of work. In their view, it makes sense to integrate existing flex- ibility schemes into a comprehen- sive programme of occupational health management and to make this part of corporate strategy. The psychologists now intend to review the results of their survey in a more far-reaching quantita- tive study, in order to to draw up recommendations for companies about practical organisation. Digitisation requires a healthy balance between work and leisure. Photo: Rainer Sturm / pixelio.de Second-hand smoke at work Exposure of Europeans to smoking of their colleagues is rising More than one in four of people who work indoors are being exposed to second-hand smoke at work, according to new research. The study by researchers at Imperial Col- lege London looked at all current 28 EU countries, the majority of which have intro- duced smoke-free legislation to protect workers from second-hand smoke. Alt- hough the study did find a reduction in the number of people exposed to second-hand smoke in restaurants and bars, it also re- vealed that the number of people exposed in indoor workplaces has increased. The research involved a survey of more than 55,000 people across the EU, half sur- veyed in 2009, the other half in 2014. During that time several countries, including Bulga- ria, Spain, Belgium and Hungary, introduced stricter legislation banning smoking in pub- lic buildings and indoor work places to pro- tect workers. These new laws, and better enforcement of existing regulations, were reflected in the survey results. However, of those people who work indoors, 27.5 per cent said they had been exposed to second- hand smoke at work in 2014. This has risen from 23.8 per cent in 2009. Researchers say it can be harder to enforce smoke-free le- gislation in workplaces because this can re- ly on individuals making complaints. The study suggests failures to enforce existing smoke-free laws, but it also re- veals major variation between different EU countries, with some doing a better job of protecting workers than others. The results come as the European Respiratory Society and European Lung Foundation launch their annual Healthy Lungs for Life campaign with events for the public and health pro- fessionals focusing on air pollution, occupa- tional exposure and smoking cessation. Smoking at work may harm your colleagues. Photo: Aka / pixelio.de