Questions: The aim of occupational health
management is the support of employees’
physical and mental health. Occupational
health management should benefit both employee
and employer. What percentage of
employees, especially of those with already
compromised health, are using such services?
Methods: 133 patients working as employees
or civil servants, and suffering mostly from
depression, were consecutively admitted to
the psychosomatic hospital Schön Klinik
Roseneck, with a long-standing emphasis on
cognitive behavioural therapy. Subjects were
evaluated with regard to perceived working
conditions, work-load and perceived burn-out,
as well as to knowledge about and utilization
of health-related services at their workplace.
Results: Most of the patients (age about 50
years.) perceived themselves as suffering to
a high degree from job-related burdens. Accordingly
they perceived themselves as being
„burnt-out“. Half of the patients quoted
high emotional distance to their employer;
these patients especially did not participate
in health-related services at the workplace.
They showed little confidence in their employer,
assuming inadequate confidentiality
concerning sensitive individual data and that
the individuals well-being is not the true aim
of such facilities.
Perspectives: Notwithstanding intentions,
contents and quality of occupational health
management in prevention of somatic and
mental disorders, the efficacy of such efforts
depends greatly on their utilization by
stressed employees. The data indicate that
trust and working atmosphere are crucial
aspects for the success of any health programmes
in the workplace. Consequences for
health management concepts and practices
in the workplace are discussed.
