Amid increasing concerns about workplace injuries, chronic diseases, and mental health issues, the economic strain on companies and insurers has intensified. Occupational health interventions (e.g., ergonomics and workspace design, physical health and fitness programs, mental health and stress interventions) are essential in mitigating these risks, reducing the development of insurance claims, and fostering sustainable economic growth for the insuree. By implementing targeted preventive measures that enhance workplace safety and health, organizations can not only lower insurance claims but also decrease healthcare costs and improve productivity. As a consequence, around 75% of Swiss companies (>50 employees) have already implemented occupational health management in their operations.
The project aims to first establish a solid understanding of the current intervention landscape and their benefits for insurer and insuree via a systematic literature review and externally provided insurance data (Phase 1). This initial phase will provide the groundwork for conducting an empirical observational study that will assess the impact of specific interventions (e.g., ensa-leadership courses) on insurance claims development (e.g., claims related to psychological conditions). The project will evaluate these interventions from two perspectives: the insurer, focusing on reducing insurance claims, and the insuree (e.g., private and public institutions), which examines economic benefits such as productivity improvements (e.g., via absenteeism and presenteeism) and cost savings.
Prof. Dr. Alexander Geissler, Dr. David Ehlig, Jonas Backes, Sonja Müller
AXA Schweiz & WeCare
AXA Schweiz & WeCare
Phase 1: October 2024 – April/May 2025