Who gives advice when activities to maintain work ability are started?
Maintenance of work ability (MWA) is based on co-operation, genuine participation and commitment. You can find information about the topic in books, on the Internet or at training sessions, or you can attend a course dealing with MWA. Employment pension insurance companies also provide advice and training on the promotion of well-being at work. Within the scope of their activities, the occupational health services of workplaces are required to plan and implement activities maintaining and promoting the employees' work ability, as defined in the Act on Occupational Health Services.
Who participates in MWA and how?
The maintenance of work ability consists of co-operation between the employer, the collaborating organizations, and employees. For an individual worker, MWA may involve
- promotion of one’s own health and physical condition
- learning new things
- participation in co-operation and workplace development
- accepting challenges and responsibility.
The employer’s areas of responsibility include
- prevention of health risks
- familiarizing new workers with work tasks
- development of working conditions and the work organization
- organization of occupational health services
- ensuring opportunities for training and participation
- promotion of equality and esteem.
The responsibility areas of occupational health services’ include
- organization of occupational health services
- monitoring of groups at risk and people with reduced work capacity
- workplace surveys
- participation in the planning of MWA.