Policy Arrangements

Global Congress Recommendations on Policy Arrangements

• The mental health in the workplace can be improved through a number of actions. These actions need to be initiated by different players:
  • International Agencies
  • Government
  • Employer

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• The international agencies need to come up with recommendations on how to improve the mental health in the workplace to governments, employers and employees (unions). The recommendations need to focus on laws/arrangements to create incentives for improvements on all levels.
• The governments should create tax incentives for the employers to invest in initiatives to increase the wellbeing at work. The governments should also provide information about the benefit potential. Example: The Canadian Government
• Need for a new internal accounting reflecting to benefit potential of initiatives to increase the wellbeing at work. The benefit potential should be presented in the format of an "accounting table" showing the return of investments when investing in initiatives to increase the wellbeing.
• Work need to be redefined. Activities like learning and activities not related to a certain employer should also be defined as work. Unemployment should not happen. Unemployment cause depressions and substantial costs for the society. (Refer to Mathew Fox).
• It is a need to educate politicians to understand the aspects of mental health in the workplace. This education should be delivered by international agencies and by the Global Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace.
• Establish a "Nobel Prize" to be announced at the Global Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace.
• There is a need for a strong movement. This movement should be a kind of "Club of Rome". The name of the movement could be "Club of Geneva". The Global Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace could be the "meeting point" or event.
• The agencies and the Global Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace should partner with business schools in order to increase the knowledge among students.
• Initialize an international project to create a common language glossary of terms that can be used globally that reframes things positively (mental enhancement).Establish a standard measurement for productivity improvement. ILO could be the sponsor.
• Success stories/benchmarks should be gathered and communicated on an ongoing basis. The Global Congress on Mental Health in the Workplace should be a forum to present and discuss success stories. It should also be a forum for networking.
• The professional health industry services are fragmented. There is a need for a more "holistic" approach. EAP, HR and managed care should be more coordinated (one stop stopping).Bring different gatekeepers together in the integration process.
• There is a need for an international web site for dialogue and knowledge. This webpage should serve as a home for organizations doing strategic planning. The toolbox is a valuable starting point.