Workplace health promotion
Contact
Leon Hoffmann
Maike Santelmann
Inga Stelter
Workplace health promotion
One focus of health management is on preventative measures and workplace health promotion services. This involves addressing aspects of the working environment and organisation (conditions) as well as providing services promoting healthy living, for example in the areas of nutrition, exercise and stress management (behaviour).
The Workplace Health Management steering group is the governing committee that oversees health management processes and initiates individual projects and measures. The steering group is made up of members from different disciplines. The aims, principles and tasks of health management are further detailed in the service agreement on workplace health management.
Health when working from home
In an ever more digital world, working from home has become increasingly prevalent. Many of the University of Oldenburg’s support and advisory services can therefore also be accessed from home. The following tips and suggestions can also help make working at home varied and as healthy as possible:
- Tips for working at home
- Tips for healthy online events
- Back exercises for in-between
- Short exercises to relax your eyes
The University Sports Centre also provides various online sessions (workouts, exercise breaks and online courses) so that you can exercise at home.
Analysis and advice
Health management provides support and advice to organisational units in the analysis of working conditions and the design of target group-specific services in terms of health-related factors and resources (e.g. in the form of health groups, work situation analyses or workshops). Comprehensive analyses are also carried out - such as a regular survey of employees on their work situation.
Individuals can also get in touch with health management at any time with specific concerns, questions or requests.
Leadership and health
In designing working conditions, managers have an impact on the health and well-being of employees. But they can also be the target group of health-related services themselves. Health management supports managers in this dual role and, if requested, provides workshops on health-oriented leadership for organisational units. A brief presentation of the objectives, services and potential of health management can also be arranged in team or management meetings to provide an insight into the topic.
Exercise activities
All employees can take an active break from their daily work and get moving in small groups in an exercise break.
In addition to the university sport programme, which is open to all university members outside of working hours, there are specific staff-only sports classes at reasonable prices and convenient times (straight after work or during the lunch break). You can find these “staff classes” on the university sports page under current sports activities.
The university is also involved in regional campaigns, such as “CITYCYCLING” in Oldenburg: in 2024, the university came in second place!
Workshops, events and talks
Workshops to maintain and promote health and seminars on topics such as stress management, exercise, nutrition and ergonomics are held as part of the further education programme. You can sign up via PEOE.IP.
The mittags-info tackles issues related to health, prevention and reconciling family and work life. You can sign up to this series of events at this link after logging into Stud.IP.
The state ministry provides information on various health-related topics in the telephone series of events „Time Out - 30 Minuten für Arbeit und Gesundheit“ (“Time Out - 30 Minutes for Work and Health”).
Relaxation and mindfulness
Room of Silence
The “Room of Silence” is located in building A04 (room number 00-004) and is a place for all university members to come and unwind, relax or pray and meditate in silence in a peaceful setting. Several people can use the room at the same time and we therefore kindly ask you to observe the room rules. The Room of Silence is open at the following times:
Mondays-Fridays: 6.00 am to 8.00 pm; Saturdays in term time: 8.00 am to 6.00 pm; Sundays and Saturdays outside term time: Closed
One minute to take stock
Work days are often jam-packed with back-to-back meetings and events. This means that there is often no time to mentally switch from one topic to another or from one interlocutor to the next.
“One minute to take stock” is intended to provide a counterbalance to this: the aim is for everyone to take a minute to pause before a meeting or event gets started. It is up to those attending how they wish to use the minute: they might want to close their eyes or use the minute for mindful breathing, to switch off or to mentally prepare themselves for the next task. All that matters is that there is as little noise as possible in the room during this time.
Approach: The “One minute to take stock” image can be downloaded here and used in any context at the University of Oldenburg. If it is to be integrated into a presentation, the slot after the title slide (before the agenda) is usually the best. The image is displayed, the “minute to take stock” is briefly introduced and then ended once the minute is over.
Mobile massage
Massages are used to relieve tension caused by stress or poor posture. As part of workplace health promotion, the University of Oldenburg offers its employees the chance to have a mobile massage.
How it works:
- You can have a mobile massage twice a month for 20 minutes each time during working hours.
- The time slots should be chosen by mutual agreement so as not to interfere with your work duties.
- The university only allows time off during working hours.
- Treatment contracts for a maximum of two mobile massages per month must be concluded by employees with the providers at their own expense.
- Mobile massages are currently available at the following times:
- Tuesdays between 8.30 am and 11.30 am in the first-aid room in the lecture theatre building (room A14 0-028)
- Thursdays between 8.30 am and 11.30 am at the Wechloy campus (room W02 1-156)
- For legal reasons, it must be noted here that the University is not liable for any damages incurred in connection with using the mobile massage service.
What to expect from the mobile massage:
the mobile massage is a shoulder/neck massage. No oil is used so that customers can remained clothed during the massage.
Provider:
you can book a mobile massage via the following provider:
Conny Meinicke - Prevention and rehabilitation coach
Telephone: 0441 3610 5991 | 0162 727 0788
Email:
You are of course free to choose any other provider for a mobile massage.
Key issues
Health management organises events and campaigns on various key health-related issues from time to time. These include:
- health days and weeks
- events such as “10 days for mental health - fit for working life”
- talks on various topics, such as a talk on coronavirus vaccination
- health survey for specific target groups, e.g. Doctoral candidates
Additional prevention services
RV Fit
The RV Fit program was developed by doctors based on evidence and is a preventive measure to counteract the increasing proportion of long-term illnesses. It includes elements on the topics of exercise, nutrition, and stress management. The goal of this holistic approach is to promote an improved attitude toward life. The structured program gives people the opportunity to improve their long-term health and well-being and learn healthy behaviors. You can find more information here: Website RV Fit
RV Fit is free of charge for employees. It is a case of medical prevention for which continued payment of remuneration is made in accordance with § 9 Abs. 1 i. V. m. § 3 Entgeltfortzahlungsgesetz (EntgFG). There is no need to apply for time off work. Once the application has been approved, the person is to be released from work for this purpose. This release from work is for a maximum of eight days. Contact Dezernat 1
We recommend that you discuss your participation with your manager. Please submit the pension insurance notification to your personnel administrator. Contact persons from Department 1
If you have any questions about RV fit, please contact the Health Management.
Guide to mental health
MUT-ATLAS is a Germany-wide online guide offering support for mental health issues, crises, and illnesses. A map shows various support options in a particular location - from counseling and therapy to self-help groups and services related to housing and work. For more information, please visit:
Website Mut-Atlas