11 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Using the ILO SOLVE Programme to Promote the Quality of Work and Social Dialogue in the Enlarged European Union Dr. David Gold International Labour Office 25 January 2008 "Psychosocial Risk Management-European Framework" Berlin, Germany

12 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Case study years old First job Lack of experience Lack of tacit knowledge Lack of formal knowledge Strong desire to succeed

13 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work High personal demand High professional demand Limited or no control over demands Stress (Burnout) Violence Depression Addictions (Alcohol, drugs, smoking, cyber addiction, gambling) Inadequate nutrition Inadequate exercise Strong sexual drive Physical Biological Chemical Ergonomic Psychosocial Increased exposures to risks Occupational accidents Occupational diseases HazardsSituationLevel of risk Outcomes Absenteeism, presenteeism, job loss Pain, distress, illness Disability Death

14 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Can Social Dialogue Play a Role in Reducing the Risk of Psychosocial Problems Related to Work?

15 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Disharmony at Work May Have Many Causes It was perhaps not so difficult when all the workers came for the same village or the same community. With the highly mobile workforce of today, workers may now, in Europe come for different countries, speaking different languages, with different cultural values

16 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Definition: The Ottawa Charter Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and its determinants. This is done be strengthening individual skills and capabilities and the capacity of groups to change the many conditions, particularly the social and economic causes, that affect health. 1986

17 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The Karasek Model Control Demand High Low Source: Karasek 1979

18 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The ability of a worker to discuss issues with an employer, without fear, gives a worker a feeling of control A higher perception of control translates into less stress Can the reduction of stress lead to a lower risk of psychosocial problems?

International Labour Office Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work An ILO Educational Approach to Formulate a Comprehensive Policy and Actions at Work to Address These Problems

110 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Examples of the Scope of the Problem In Canada, 50% of workers suffer from a high level of stress (1999, Public Heath Canada). In Europe, 23% of workers reported overall fatigue (2000, European Survey on Working Conditions). In a US study, 32% of 586 nurses identified themselves as victims of workplace violence (Colorado Nurses Assn, 1997). In a study of 954 New South Wales police personnel in Australia, 20% would seek advice from work-place staff about alcohol (1999).

111 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The Problem Stress Tobacco HIV/AIDS Violence Alcohol and drugs

112 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work

113 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Expanding SOLVE

114 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work What SOLVE Addresses of the Top Ten Health Hazards Underweight Unsafe sex High blood pressure Tobacco Alcohol Contaminated water Sanitation and hygiene Iron deficiency Indoor pollution High cholesterol and obesity

115 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The community Work The social environment The family The person Factors Influencing Psychosocial Issues

116 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Focus on the Individual For the worker : higher risk of accident increased family or social problems stigmatization and discrimination deteriorating health physical or psychological illness pain, distress, disability and death

117 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Focus on the Workplace For the enterprise or organization : poor morale increased absenteeism, presenteeism, turnover reduced productivity reduced profits or services higher costs reduced competitiveness

118 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The Goal of SOLVE Integration of psychosocial issues into a comprehensive organizational policy and development of action based on the policy

119 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The SOLVE Cycle Broadening organizational policy through SOLVE to include psychosocial problems Implementing workplace action through MicroSolve modules Evaluating workplace psychosocial problems and modifying the concept as needed Identifying specific problems and assessing needs

120 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work The SOLVE Programme Briefing package for managing directors 2 hours The SOLVE policy-level course … 4 days SOLVE for mid-level managers3 days Course for peer counsellors … 2 days SOLVE for course directors5 days An introduction to SOLVE for workers 1 hour MicroSOLVEs (22)1.5 hours The SOLVE methodology moves from concept to policy to action

121 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Adjustment to Culture, Ethnicity and Language through Simulation

122 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Methodology Building an open attitude towards the subject Building a sufficient knowledge base so that the participant can apply knowledge learnt Applying the new knowledge through exercises Each of the SOLVE elements follows an educational scheme that works in multiple domains of learning

123 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Within the 32 hour SOLVE Policy Course, there are twelve hours of role-play simulation exercises. Participants bring into the simulation exercise their cultural, ethnic, ethical values and apply them in a non-threatening policy building exercise. The simulation exercise is based on the concept that through social dialogue, problems can be solved and both quality and productivity can be assured.

124 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work What is the Policy-Level SOLVE Course? Provides tools to design a corporate policy including psychosocial problems Demonstrates the impact on workers’ families and communities Highly interactive: case study analysis simulation exercises and policy development activities A 32-hour interactive programme for operational managers

125 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Capacity to Organize SOLVE

126 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work Capacity to Organize SOLVE SOLVE has been translated into in the following languages English French Spanish Thai Portuguese Russian Bulgarian Italian Arabic

127 Addressing Psychosocial Problems at Work For Further Information Dr. David Gold SOLVE SafeWork International Labour Office 1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland Phone: Fax: Web site: