ORIGINAL PAPER
Health promotion in medium-sized and large enterprises in Poland,
in the context of population ageing.
The specificity of workplaces with a different size
of employment and financial situation
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Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Krajowe Centrum Promocji Zdrowia w Miejscu Pracy / National Centre for Workplace Health Promotion)
Online publication date: 2019-11-05
Corresponding author
Eliza Goszczyńska
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera,
Krajowe Centrum Promocji Zdrowia w Miejscu Pracy, ul. św. Teresy 8, 91-348 Łódź
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2020;71(1):17-31
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ABSTRACT
Background: Demographic projections indicate an inevitable intensification of the population ageing process. This situation causes
significant challenges for employers due to the shrinking and ageing of the workforce. Workplace health promotion, adjusted to the
needs and expectations of employees in different age groups, is one of the tools of preventing and minimizing the consequences of
this demographic process. In Poland there is a lack of research showing employers’ attitudes towards the demographic crisis, health
promotion as a way of coping with the implications of ageing or the implementation of health promotion tailored to the specificity of
younger and older employees. In addition, there is hardly any information on whether these issues are differentiated by the size and
financial situation of enterprises. Therefore, the paper is aimed at filling in these knowledge gaps. Material and Methods: A national representative
study of 1000 companies employing ≥50 people was conducted (October−November 2017), in a form of standardized
computer-assisted personal interviews. Results: There is a low awareness of the discussed demographic process (8% of the enterprises
surveyed declare experiencing its consequences). Most organizations do not prepare themselves for facing the future challenges
of ageing (only one–fifth discuss this topic during management meetings), nor do they respond to the first symptoms of this process
(only one–fourth react to the observed consequences of demographic changes, and every second organization tends to finish its cooperation
with employees once they attain the retirement age). Although half of the respondents believe in the effectiveness of health
promotion in coping with the consequences of the ageing process, in reality the capability of these activities is not harnessed (few
companies are interested in the diverse health needs and expectations of employees in different age groups, and in adjusting health
promotion activities to these needs and expectations). The size and financial situation do not differentiate many issues analyzed in
the study. Conclusions: It is necessary to make employers aware of the inevitability of population ageing and its implications for
enterprises, shaping their skills in effective preventive/remedial actions (including health promotion) and supporting them in such
implementations. Med Pr. 2020;71(1):17–31