Plan B - Gesünder arbeiten. Fit am Arbeitsplatz

Fit through the job - work is a lifetime, but work often makes people ill. A shortage of skilled workers and an ageing society are increasing the pressure. Investing in health pays off - for employees and companies. Lack of exercise, no breaks, little sleep, stress and pressure to perform are causing more and more absences. There are good health concepts for the world of work and for companies. These include ensuring that the menopause no longer leads to career setbacks. At Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences, students do not sit on chairs, but on home trainers or march on the treadmill. In 1992, the university became the first in Germany to offer a course in health promotion and health management. Linking practice and teaching directly is also a major concern of lecturer Annette Bergmüller: "It's about making health tangible in order to create offers that are accepted." But how does health promotion work on the construction site? One of the largest construction companies in Europe employs around 75,000 people. Johannes Burchard is responsible for their health. His aim is to keep fitness levels high on construction sites, as cardiovascular and back problems in particular are on the rise and cause absenteeism. A health mobile gives employees the opportunity to have medical check-ups directly on site so that they can react at an early stage. A previously taboo subject in the workplace is increasingly becoming the focus of public attention: according to a British study, menopausal symptoms have far-reaching consequences for women in the workplace. One in four is considering cutting back or quitting altogether. Sarah Alexander from Milton Keynes had severe symptoms: Heart palpitations, anxiety, she didn't know what was going on. She was in the dark for two years. She finally received support from her employer: "It was like a liberation. The free consultation was a milestone in finding the right treatment, everything was done directly at the workplace." Today, she supports colleagues so that they can learn from her experience.