Volkswagen

The Social and Economic Case for Workability Policies

Maintaining and promoting workability and employability are social obligations and economic necessities. Related actions also take into account the demographic change in the world of work, allowing older workers with health problems to continue to be employed to a reasonable extent. Preventative health care and health promotion are not only forward-looking, sustainable instruments for looking after staff, they are also elements in personnel and organisational development.

Under the company’s holistic health management system, employees who, as a result of illness or accident, have reduced ability levels, are not excluded from the work process at Volkswagen. Instead they are systematically integrated into the work process, taking their individual ability levels into consideration. An individual reintegration and support concept is worked out together with the employee affected.

Within the framework of "occupational medicine in cooperation with a hospital", the rehabilitation process starts at the hospital with the aim of optimum reintegration into working life. Intensive contacts between the company health system and rehabilitation institutions and the support of an occupational physician contribute towards this. Employees in rehabilitation or undergoing physiotherapy are cared for in corporate training centres (for example "health parks"). For employees who are deemed fit for rehabilitation by the doctor and are suitably motivated, there is a range of options for becoming reintegrated into the work process. Priority is placed on the employee returning to the former place of work. If this is not feasible, the workplace is redesigned to include ergonomic devices or the employee is moved to a suitable workplace within the company. If reintegration is only initially possible on an hourly basis, the employee is reintroduced to his former work by gradually increasing the number of hours worked per day under the supervision of the medical team.

The Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg has had a rehabilitation centre since 1973 where different production parameters prevail: targets are matched to suit the individual, work is varied in line with the progress made in rehabilitation, workplaces are designed for good ergonomics and employees participate in rehabilitation sport during working hours. Moreover, the employees learn relaxation techniques and participate in behavioural therapy.

The WORK2WORK (W2W) programme has been developed in Wolfsburg for employees who, for health reasons, are not able to return to their former workplace. These employees are able to work in special jobs which are appropriate to their ability levels and where they can contribute to the profitability of the company. The reintegration programmes have demonstrated a greater ability to work, a greater willingness to work and better health in affected employees.

"Creative, motivated and committed employees are a company´s most important resource; they are also a decisive competitive factor. Successful companies draw their strength, innovation and dynamism from their human resources. A company cannot be healthier and more productive than its workforce."

Dr. Bodo Marschall, Corporate Executive Director, Health Division, Volkswagen AG