Your employees should do things for themselves in addition to their job and family. A healthy selfishness protects against overwork and preserves health and manpower.

Overtime in the company must be compensated with free time or at least fairly remunerated. This can be regulated, for example, by working time accounts with time off compensation. These create room for manoeuvre in emergency situations and other personal needs.

Other options include offering employees paid time off and supporting exercise and sport. Larger companies often have their own fitness rooms. As a smaller company, you can offer co-payments or negotiate discounts for prevention courses, such as back therapy training.

It can also happen that an employee asks you for permission for a part-time job. Often this point is already regulated in the employment contract. If it concerns financial aspects and you cannot actively support your employees, approval should not be denied. It should be recorded in writing that your consent can be revoked at any time in the event of a drop in work performance.

Fair salary increases combined with flexibility at the workplace will bind employees to your company. A voluntary bonus for good performance can also be a motivation for the employee.

Questions and answers

• Health insurance companies will be happy to advise you on how you can promote the health of your employees. You will provide information material and be the contact person for the implementation of corporate prevention on various health issues.
• Employer's liability insurance associations and accident insurers give you industry-specific advice and information on the concrete implementation of occupational safety and health protection measures.
• The pension insurance institution will tell you more about company integration management and other health issues.
• Occupational physicians can support you in promoting occupational health. They carry out individual measures such as flu vaccinations or eye checks.
• Sports clubs and associations offer a wide range of sports activities.
• Your tax consultant will check the tax deductibility of health-promoting measures for you.