Engineers deserve wellbeing at work too

There is a large and complex law that gives all Swedes the right to a safe and healthy work environment.

For most people the work environment law is probably as soporific as a tax audit, but Marie Niljung knows it inside out and knows how it should be put into practice.

"Actually it's quite simple. People (including engineers) should feel well and not get ill at work. A good indicator is whether people say 'hi', 'thanks' and 'bye' to each other in the workplace."

Good companies look after their employees

At POJI the employees are thankfully healthy and polite to each other (still), but as the company grows and gets more employees they need to work increasingly strategically on creating a safe work environment that prevents injuries and ill-health.

The company wants to be a good workplace that looks after its employees and gives them the conditions to grow and develop. And that is also the employer's responsibility.

A challenge with all the rules

The challenge is of course to keep track of all the rules they have to follow, while at the same time preventing stress, injuries and ill-health. That's why they bring in Marie Niljung as a sounding board on work environment issues.

Marie helps the company work in a structured way with employees' health and their joint work environment. It is a preventive effort that is never finished, because just as an office gets dirty if you don't clean it, the work environment deteriorates if no one keeps on top of it.

But what are you aiming for?

What is a good work environment?

"A good work environment has good ergonomics, balance between demands and resources, but also trust and respect between manager and employee. I should be able to go to my manager if I can't cope with the work. You should know what you have to do and what rules apply, and if there's something you don't understand you should know who to go to," says Marie Niljung.

Dare to ask

Marie is a trained human resources specialist with a specialisation in employment law.

Despite having worked for a long time with heavy subjects like suicide prevention and people in crisis, she is a chronically positive and colourful person with enormous empathy.

At the Social Insurance Agency she learned what happens when you get ill, and that people can actually become more ill from being on sick leave.

"The best thing is if people DON'T get ill at work. And you prevent that most easily by tackling things immediately. As soon as you notice that someone is feeling unwell, or if productivity is falling, you should talk to the employee. Keep track of what the most common signs of stress, depression or anxiety are. And dare to ask, dare to listen, dare to act."

Amazing to see people grow

Marie usually works using a method called NÖRHA – Current situation, Desired situation, Obstacles, Resources and Activities. It works just as well on individuals as organisations and teams.

At POJI Marie contributes by creating a good atmosphere and "nags" about exercise and eating right. If someone wants to talk about personal problems she is there as support, and when the company needs to recruit she supports with tips and advice. A few times a year she holds a workshop with employees to set individual and shared goals to work with.

"It's a good barometer of how people are feeling that also gives valuable input for developing the company and employees. It's amazing to see people grow and take responsibility for their own health and development," says Marie.