Company health management against declining health literacy – How HR teams can stop the loss of productivity

A wake-up call for HR managers: The long-term importance of occupational health management (OHM) is declining. The health literacy of employees is declining – with noticeable consequences for companies.

Health literacy forms the basis for a high-performing workforce. However, recent studies show that Around 59% of the German population have problematic or inadequate health literacy. The consequences range from higher sickness rates and stress levels to reduced productivity.

Health literacy is more than just knowledge about nutrition or exercise – it describes the ability to understand and categorise health information and use it sensibly in everyday life. For HR managers, it plays a central role when it comes to promoting the health and well-being of the workforce in the long term.

Company health management is losing strategic relevance

Nevertheless, occupational health management (OHM) is losing strategic relevance: According to the BPM Occupational Field Study 2023, OHM has slipped to 12th place in the priority list of HR topics – a decline of eleven percentage points since 2020.

This development raises a key question: How can companies ensure the long-term health and performance of their employees under these conditions?

At a time when the health of employees is deteriorating and complex health information is on the rise, it is becoming clear that employees need guidance and support. Many people find it difficult to recognise reliable health information and take action. The consequences can be incorrect self-assessments, lifestyle-related reductions in performance or unnecessary sick leave.

This is where health-competent HR work comes in. It creates a framework that empowers employees individually to develop healthier habits – for example through science-based health information with check-ups and health coaching. At the same time, it signals appreciation and care: strengthening health literacy promotes self-efficacy and personal responsibility within the company.

Challenges of conventional OHM: between aspiration and reality

Many OHM programmes focus on offers such as fitness vouchers, health days or digital tools. These measures can provide impetus, but are often too superficial. Often, it is mainly employees who are already health-conscious who are reached – while other target groups are left out.

What’s more, without clear target orientation and proof of effectiveness, OHM measures quickly come under pressure to justify themselves – especially when it comes to budget allocation.

New approaches to occupational health management: strategically promoting health literacy

Instead of selective measures, the current debate is increasingly focussing on a strategic approach: the targeted promotion of health literacy as a long-term lever for improving individual performance.

Successful OHM strategies are characterised by four principles:

1. Health competence instead of individual measures: HR should empower employees to develop their own health strategy instead of just providing blanket offers.
2. Utilise managers as health multipliers: Health-effective leadership means that managers support their employees in increasing their health literacy and strengthening their health-related personal responsibility.
3. Evidence-based methods instead of actionism: Measures must be demonstrably effective – this can be achieved through scientifically sound programmes with long-term success.
4. Customised solutions for every single person: Health is individual. Every employee is empowered to develop their own strategy that suits their life situation, challenges and goals.

Occupational health management: health competence can be learnt

A practical example from the public sector shows how targeted interventions can achieve significant improvements in a short space of time – including in stress competence, physical performance and the development of healthy habits. Even years after taking part, employees still report lasting effects:

• Health literacy increased by 45% in one employee group
• Stress competence improved by up to 17%
• Physical performance increased by 58%

These impressive results were achieved in just six months – and they remain effective in the long term. This is because the new behaviours were not only changed in the short term, but have become firm habits that are here to stay.

This shows that OHM can have a lasting effect if it not only provides measures, but also empowers people individually to strengthen their personal responsibility and health competence.

Conclusion: Health promotion as an economic success factor

The figures make it clear: Companies that systematically invest in their employees’ health literacy benefit in the long term – through increased productivity, less absenteeism and a stronger corporate culture.

Health can be learnt – and it needs an evidence-based foundation.