Operational Integration Management of the Saarpfalz District Awarded
What do the Saarpfalz district, Saarbahn GmbH, Kreissparkasse St. Wendel, and Hörmann KG Eckelhausen have in common? Together with five employers, the Saarpfalz district was honored by the State Office for Social Affairs for its Corporate Integration Management (BEM). This award is given to companies and institutions that are particularly committed to the health of their employees, prevention, and the long-term retention of jobs, thereby exceeding the legal requirements.
BEM is, alongside occupational health and safety as well as workplace health promotion, part of the holistic Occupational Health Management, in which the individual support needs of employees entitled to BEM are determined. BEM has been legally established since 2004 and targets employees who have been unable to work for more than six weeks within 12 months. Employees are supported step by step to reintegrate into working life. At Saarpfalz-Kreis, there is a steering committee that, in addition to the employees of Occupational Health Management and the staff council, includes a member appointed by the representative body for severely disabled persons. The award is a recognition of the joint commitment of the entire workforce.
Attached to the certificate is a bonus of 10,000 euros. “We are jointly searching for solutions that facilitate re-entry. We invest the bonus money in the health of all district employees,” inform Katharina Schett and Anna-Lena Buchheit from BGM. “Corporate health management means more to us than merely complying with legal requirements. It is about supporting employees in their difficult life situations and securing jobs. In times of demographic change and a shortage of skilled workers, this is also significant from an employer’s perspective,” explains District Administrator Frank John, who participates in the steering group meetings whenever possible.
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Photo: Melissa Rust, LAS
Caption: Award ceremony at the Saarpfalz district: from left Katharina Schett, Anna-Lena Buchheit (both mayors at the Saarpfalz district), department head for labor, social affairs and health Dr. Ulrike Zwar (SPK), Stefan Funck (LAS), Martin Kerz (MASFG)
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