REPRESENTING EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HOW EMPLOYER

REPRESENTING EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HOW EMPLOYER ORGANIZATIONS CAN PROTECT WORKERS' HEALTH IN TIMES OF ECONOMIC CRISIS. Dr Janet L Asherson, IOE

EMPLOYER ORGANISATIONS AND EMPLOYERS WORKING TOGETHER THE PUBLIC, NGO’ Governments, authorities, institutions that make policies, laws and taxes CULTURES Employers organisations represent and serve members Busines ses all sizes sectors OTHER LOBBY GROUPS SOCIETY, THE PRESS

MAIN ROLES OF EMPLOYERS ORGANISATIONS q. INFORM AND CONSULT MEMBERS q. INFLUENE GOVERNMENTS AND OTHERS q. SHARE BEST PRACTICE AND PROVIDE NETWORKS q. BE AN ADVOCATE FOR BUSINESS TO WIDER COMMUNITY

IOE GOSH. NETWORK Multinationals : crossing boundaries, recognising cultures

CRISIS – WHICH CRISIS Finance Climate Fuel Food Swine Flu pandemics

Business reality

GOOD HEALTH ESSENTIAL FOR SURVIVAL Recognise that many businesses contribute to health Workplace to inform people what good health is Have policies that keep people in good work Develop innovative and resilient businesses and people

RECOGNITION: A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL Recognise that many businesses contribute to health q. Its not just health care providers but many others q. Recognising their contribution will make them feel more engaged q. Business welathcration and taxes contributes to health and social services purse

PROVIDING WORK: A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL Have policies that keep people in good work q Good work provides good health q Employed people contribute more to health costs than they take q Public working alongside private provision q Policies that stimulate employment q EOs must influence for relevant policies depending on country

INFORMATION ON GOOD HEALTH: A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL Workplace to inform people what good health is q. Workplace important venue for information and interventions q. Understand what good health is q. Cascade to families and communities q. Campaigns aligned with government messages q. Relevant and tailored to the country

INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE: A TOOL FOR SURVIVAL Develop innovative and resilient businesses and people q. Employees happy healthy here and contributing in a competitive environment q. Physical and mental coping skills to embrace change q. Tools to build resilience

A COMPANY VIEW AND ACTION • Considerable innovation and resilience programme introduced • Consensus that management support is crucial in the deployment of a robust program • Risk based approach and the use of risk based principles • Look at health issues in a holistic approach, using the WHO definition of health reference • Challenges: – Outsourced of EHS services: approach to follow? – SME’s – Business case

Breaking down the silos Occupational Health Skills and training for adaptable empoloyees Physical and mental Wellbeing Supportive work environment Supportive social systems Public health Contributes to sustainable businesses and society

OUTCOMES IMPROVED FOR ALL Individual employability Team versatility Organisational innovation Market sustainability e c n National cohesion e g Competitiveness Global competitiveness er p hi c s r e n t r a D p e u g lo a i v n o Cohesion Sustainability Innovation Versatility Employability