Newsletter from the Nordic Labour Journal 4/2016

Theme: From psychosocial sick leave to well-being and attendance at work

Kjartan

Editorial: The psychosocial challenge

The story about Kristján from Iceland in this month’s theme illustrates how exposed young people often are in working life. When the Nordic Labour Journal shines a light on the psychosocial working environment, the story widens out. The theme shows how organisational changes are needed and how systematic efforts can turn sick leave figures on their heads.

Young workers at greater risk of psychological ill health

Many young workers in the Nordic countries live dangerously in the workplace, according to a new Nordic report. The risk for physical injury as well as psychological ill health is considerably higher among young workers compared to older ones.

A top psychological working environment on the Danish island of Lolland

Employees should be whistling when they go to work and when they go home again. That is the ambition at the Center for Social Indsats (Centre for Social Measures) – a municipal workplace employing 275 people on the Danish island of Lolland. And there are many reasons to whistle contently: their psychological working environment has been named the best in Denmark.

Many Danish municipalities seek help to improve psychological working environments

A newly formed group of consultants will be helping municipalities improve employees’ psychological working environments. There is great interest in getting support.

Working women’s psychological ill health made worse by uneven structures

There has been a strong increase in work-related psychological ill health in Sweden in recent years. People working in the health, education and care sector are particularly exposed. But this is not only a Swedish phenomenon. The same development can be found in all developed economies, and hardest hit are women and youths.

Sick leave down by 40 percent after focus on attendance

The Norwegian municipality of Songdalen went against the grain in order to cut the level of sick leave. They concentrated on attendance instead of absence, and used the staff’s own knowledge about their working environment with great success.

Job boredom – a tabu subject

There is a lot of talk about burnout in the workplace. But there is not much serious debate about being bored at work. Yet these repetitive, grey days can dramatically influence work capacity and efficiency.

Is precarious work becoming the new norm?

Precarious work is spreading fast. One fifth of the UK workforce is already employed in the sharing economy, made famous by companies like Uber and Airbnb.

Fighting poverty in EU – a tale of five cities

The European Union made the combat against poverty and social exclusion one of its main goals in 2008. 20 million vulnerable people should be helped to a better life by 2020 in a coordinated effort, according to the European Commission. The main tool would be active inclusion. But its easier said than done.

Åland’s Premier Katrin Sjögren: Multi-talented law maker

The Liberal Katrin Sjögren has been the head of Åland’s autonomous government since November last year, and the challenges are queueing up. Cuts are needed everywhere, Åland’s largest factory is threatened with closure and a high profile wind power project looks set to get blown away.

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