Balanced and Sustainable working life of the future- Models and methods for developing and supporting sustainable health throughout life

Work envrionment is changing rapidly. This challenges existing systems to ensure productivity, good working conditions and sustainable health. These changes and their effects are not satisfactorily reflected in current systems for monitoring. The systems need to be complemented with models and methods that promote action and evaluation.

This program contributes to the development of knowledge-based models, and methods for employers and employees to improve opportunities for participation in a balanced work during the whole working life. The Demand Ability Protocol (DAP) will be central to review the balance between work demands and functional ability.

DAP is linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Certain groups of people are particularly facing challenges with a prolonged working life.

For example, in physically demanding occupations, health care workers perceiving lower social support, high demands and low control, immigrants, employees with changes in ability due to disease, using post covid as an example.

Track 1 focus on identifying factors that enables a sustainable working life, with a focus on work demands in relation to individual abilities.

Track 2 focus on identifying organizational structures, models, and methods that enables employees in occupations with adverse physical and mental exposures to sustain a healthy working life with a balance between demands and abilities.

Track 3 focus on implementing and evaluate a co-designed organizational intervention based on previous knowledge from literature and new knowledge from track 1 and track 2 promoting productivity and sustainable health.Ultimately, we envision a future where vast majority including persons from especially vulnerable groups, for example immigrants, and persons especially subjected to adverse physical and mental load can achieve a sustainable, whole, working life.

The methods can also be useful for situations causing temporarily reduced ability.