PRESS RELEASE: Tjitte Alkema re-elected Secretary General of HOSPEEM

 

Tjitte Alkema was re-elected Secretary General of HOSPEEM for a three-year mandate period, starting as of 1 January 2016.

Mr. Alkema has been involved in HOSPEEM’s activities since 2008 as a member of the General Assembly on behalf of NVZ Dutch Association of Hospitals. In 2010 he was elected for the Vice Secretary General position.  Since January 2013 he has fulfilled the role of Secretary General.

At European level he is mainly responsible for leading the negotiations with the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) in the framework of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector and for representing HOSPEEM at high level meetings and towards the European institutions and other relevant stakeholders.

At national level Mr. Alkema works as Manager of the Department of Industrial Relations & Education at NVZ Dutch Association of Hospitals, Chairman of the Foundation of Hospital labour market activities (StAZ), and Chairman of the consultative body on collective bargaining in the Dutch Hospital sector on behalf of NVZ Dutch Association of Hospitals (ROZ).

He previously worked at the Erasmus University Rotterdam as Head of the Education Department of the Erasmus School of Economics.

 PDF - 304.4 ko Press Release

HOSPEEM Study Visit to Finland in November 2015

Following the social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of psychosocial risks and stress at work organised in Helsinki on 10 November 2015, HOSPEEM visited its Finnish member’s organisation, the Commission for Local Authority Employers – CLAE (or Local Government Employers – KT Kuntatyönantajat), on 11 November.

A first meeting at CLAE provided the opportunity to discuss about their functioning and the activities they carry out and to exchange on their current priorities and the most prominent challenges in Finland, especially with regard to the healthcare system and occupational safety and health issues.

The afternoon was dedicated to a visit to the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), a non-profit joint authority owned by 24 municipalities and employing over 22,000 professionals. HOSPEEM had the opportunity to meet with the Human Resources Director of the Hospital District. It was very interesting to hear about the way HUS deals with occupational safety and health issues, in particular with work-related psycho-social risks and stress, and about human resources development and patient safety issues. These presentations where followed by a visit to the unit specialised in liver surgery.

HOSPEEM would like to thank Henrika Nybondas-Kangas, Johanna Karlström, Taija Hämäläinen and Eeva Nypelö, as well as the staff of the Helsinki University Hospital, for the warm welcome and the fruitful exchange.

 

OSH Project Media Release: Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of psycho-social risks and stress at work

Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of psycho-social risks and stress at work

MEDIA RELEASE

On 10 November 2015, HOSPEEM and EPSU – with the support of the Finnish EPSU affiliates JHL, Superlitto and Tehy – organised a conference in Helsinki aimed at supporting a broad fact-finding on the main risk factors of psycho-social risks and stress at work in the hospital/healthcare sector, highlighting good practices to assess the risks and identifying instruments and measures that can help preventing, managing and/or reducing the risks. The live web streaming was followed by up to 250 people.

Alongside musculoskeletal disorders, psycho-social risks and stress are the most important health and safety hazards in the hospital/healthcare sector in Europe. Improvements would be beneficial in various regards as they would support effective recruitment and retention policies, reduce sickness absence and costs for employers and improve the health and safety of the workforce and thereby also the quality of service provided to patients in the hospital/healthcare sector.

Particular attention was given to the role and initiatives of social partners from local to national and European level in this regard. This was reflected in the presentations, many of which building on existing good practices and grassroots experience. Presentations from Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom illustrated how preventive actions, risk assessment and good management of psycho-social risks and stress at work can contribute to improved workers’ health and safety, to better quality care for the patients, to more attractive retention conditions for the workforce in the hospital sector and to improved efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions by reducing the negative effects psycho-social risks and stress at work have on the individual worker and/or on the good functioning of institutions and services in the hospital/healthcare sector.

The event brought together about 85 participants from more than 20 European countries. This conference was the contribution of the hospital/healthcare sector social partners to the EU-OSHA 2014-2015 ”Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress” campaign, aiming at giving a sector-specific input into the campaign and relevant follow-up activities. Zinta Podniece, representing DG EMPL, Kirsi Sillanpää, Tehy, representing EPSU, and Johanna Karlström, CLAE, representing HOSPEEM, participated in the closing panel discussion where the emphasis was put on trade unions’ and employers’ priorities with regard to further work on PSRS@W, on the main take home messages and the possibility of making practical use of the presented findings on the level of hospitals/healthcare institutions.

The conference is a key step for the sectoral social partners in the hospital sector in identifying instruments and forms of work organisation supportive in achieving healthier and safer working conditions. EPSU’s and HOSPEEM’s work on the issue will continue in 2016. This will include the collection and dissemination of existing good practices. The insights from the event will be discussed and assessed with a view to reach joint conclusions on relevant action to be taken to help preventing and reducing psycho-social risks and stress at work for the health workforce. A report is to be published in 2016.

Helsinki/Brussels, 16 November 2015

 PDF - 304.4 ko Media Release

Contact:

HOSPEEM: Emilie Sourdoire, Policy Officer, e.sourdoire@hospeem.eu, +3222292158

EPSU: Mathias Maucher, Policy Officer “Health and Social Services”, mmaucher@epsu.org, +3222501093

For more information on joint project click on the webpages of HOSPEEM or EPSU

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

OSH Project: Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of psychosocial risks and stress at work

On 10 November 2015 the second conference of the joint HOSPEEM – EPSU project on occupational health and safety risks entitled “Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of psycho-social risks and stress at work” took take place in Helsinki (co-organised by JHL, Superlitto and Tehy and supported by EPSU).

The conference focused on the causes and impacts of psycho-social risks and stress at work, on how they can be best prevented and addressed and on how an effective risk assessment and management can be organised.

You can watch the recording of the Conference  on the following link:
http://www.mediaserver.fi/live/conferencehelsinki

You can read the media release of HOSPEEM and EPSU or download the PDF - 304.4 ko Media Release in pdf.

PDF - 304.4 ko Agenda of the Conference

Read the report of the Helsinki conference, drafted by Nico Knibbe (LOCOmotion)
PDF - 304.4 koReport of the  PSRS@W Conference-EN
PDF - 304.4 koReport of the  PSRS@W Conference-FR
PDF - 304.4 koReport of the  PSRS@W Conference-DE

Presentations

From Paris to Helsinki
PDF - 304.4 ko Nico E Knibbe, Locomotion NL-EN

Session 1: “Setting the scene: Causes of psycho-social risks and stress at work (PSRS@W) in the hospital/health care sector”. 

PDF - 304.4 ko Managing stress and psychosocial risks at European workplaces, Julia Flintrop, EU-OSHA -EN

Session 2: “Risk assessment and risk management in the field of PSRS@W”
PDF - 304.4 koStress in Healthcare – Can we measure and prevent stress in healthcare?- Albert Nienhaus, Institute for Epidemiology and Occupational Health for Healthcare Workers (CVcare) -EN
PDF - 304.4 ko Challenges for healthcare Profession : work related stress, Peter J Kelly, Health and Safety Executive, (HSE)-EN

Session 3: “Better managing PSRS@W” 
PDF - 304.4 ko Applying workers’ health surveillance to manage PSRS@W, Dr. Sarah M. Ketelaar, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam -EN 
PDF - 304.4 ko Handling of harassment in Region Gävleborg, Anders Westlund, Malin Vadelius and Tor Andersson, Sweden -EN
PDF - 304.4 ko Risk assessment & primary prevention of psycho-social risks and stress in the context of the restructuration of an institution of the CAPIO Group,  Valerie d’Almeida,CFDT (Bayonne) and Catherine Allemand, Syndex -EN/FR

Session 4:” Better preventing PSRS@W”
PDF - 304.4 ko Working in partnership for an improved prevention of PSRS@W, James Tracey -NHS Trust and Kim Sunley, Royal College of Nursing- EN

Session 5:” How can workers cope with their job demands and stay engaged?”
PDF - 304.4 ko Well-being through work. How can workers cope with their job demands and stay engaged,  Saija Koskensalmi, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health- EN

Abstract:
PDF - 304.4 ko Abstracts of presentations

HOSPEEM Newsletter – Conference highlights
HOSPEEM Newsletter December 2015-Special Issue

 

                                              *** Back to main project page ***   

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

Commission of Local Authority Employers – CLAE

The Commission for Local Authority Employers – CLAE (or Local Government Employers – LGE / KT Kuntatyönantajat) is the Finnish member of HOSPEEM. CLAE has been functioning since 1970, representing all Finnish local and joint municipal authorities.  Finland has 317 municipalities and 125 joint municipal authorities. These local authorities employ about 429 000 employees, a fifth of Finland’s employed labour force. More than 80% of all local government personnel work in the health care, social services and educational sectors.

CLAE (or LGE) is an interest organisation for local government employers representing all Finnish local and joint authorities. It negotiates and concludes collective agreements in the local government sector. CLAE has a key role in improving performance and the quality of working life. Municipal public health work is the foundation of the Finnish health system. Hospitals run by joint municipal authorities provide 95 per cent of all specialist medical care and the remaining 5 per cent is provided by the private sector. Read more.

EC study on Recruitment and Retention of Health Workforce in Europe

On 6 July, the European Commission published the final report of the study of DG SANTE on recruitment and retention of health workforce in Europe. HOSPEEM and EPSU provided a social partner-based input into the study. It identifies and analyses effective strategies for recruiting and retaining health professionals and aims to serve as a source of inspiration for the development of organisational strategies and human resources policies in Europe. Read the full study.

HOSPEEM Study Visit to France in March 2015

Following the conference organised in Paris on 25 March 2015 on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders,
HOSPEEM visited its French member’s organisation, the Federation of private not for profit healthcare institutions and care services – FEHAP on 26 March.

A first meeting at FEHAP provided an opportunity to exchange on their current priorities and challenges and discuss some EU topics and initiatives. HOSPEEM also had the chance to meet with Pascale Flamant, the General Delegate of UNICANCER, the French Federation of Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The afternoon was dedicated to a visit of the hospital Saint Joseph, a private not for profit hospital member of FEHAP, with almost 2200 employees and a reception capacity of more than 600 beds and dealing with 25 medical and surgical specialties.

HOSPEEM had the opportunity to meet with the Director General and the Human Resources Manager of the hospital.

It was particularly interesting to hear about their quality approach and risk management policy and their innovative human resources policy, especially the experience of training of the management team.

HOSPEEM would like to thank Coralie Cuif, Sylvie Amzaleg, Pascale Flamant, Olga Ville and Laetitia Tibourtine, as well as the hospital Saint Joseph, for the warm welcome and the fruitful exchange.

OSH Project : Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders

This first conference took place on 25th March 2015 in Paris (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) with around 90 participants from 16 EU Member States. The aim of the conference was to provide social partner organisations with a common understanding of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders in the hospital sector and a clear picture of the concrete preventive measures they could take. PDF - 304.4 koDraft Agenda – Conference Paris 25 March 2015 – EN

Read the report of the Paris conference, drafted by Nico Knibbe (LOCOmotion):

PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-EN
PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-FR
PDF - 304.4 ko Report of the MSD Conference-DE

Presentations:

The size: Musculoskeletal disorders: what is going on? Facts, figures and data about the nature and size of the problem.
PDF - 304.4 koSize and nature of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders – Jean-Michel MILLER, Eurofound –  EN

The solutions: How do we solve the issue?
PDF - 304.4 koMusculoskeletal disorders in the nursing profession: how do we solve the problem? What are the cornerstones? – Nico KNIBBE, LOCOmotion Research NL – EN

Cornerstone 1: Regulations and guidelines. What is the existing regulatory framework at EU and national level? Is the legislation well implemented in the different Member States?
PDF - 304.4 koErgonomics at the Workplace – An EU Baseline Scenario – Antonio CAMMAROTA, DG EMPL, European Commission – EN
Swedish regulatory framework and implementation – Minke WERSÄLL, Swedish Work Environment Authority – EN

Cornerstone 2: Social partners. How can social partners contribute?
Video presentation of experience from Hospitals of the Mont-Blanc region (France) – Introductory remarks from Maryvonne NICOLLE, FSS-CFDT and Agnès NINNI, CFDT des Hôpitaux du Mont Blanc – FR,  EN
PDF - 304.4 koHealth, Safety and Wellbeing Partnership Group “Back-pack” – Kim SUNLEY, Royal College of Nursing & James TRACEY, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust – EN
PDF - 304.4 koGood Work Environment and Good Performance Go Hand in Hand – Ing-Marie LARSSON & Solveig TORENSJÖ, Karlskoga hospital (Sweden) – EN

Cornerstone 3: (Re)building ergonomic hospitals. What should ergonomic hospitals look like? 
PDF - 304.4 koCost-Effectiveness of Ergonomic Hospital Design: Methods and strategies to reduce operational costs of hospitals by introducing ergonomic concepts to enable better work conditions and higher work efficiency – Tom GUTHKNECHT, Lausanne Health & Hospitality group – EN
PDF - 304.4 koBuilding ergonomic hospitals. What should ergonomic hospitals look like? – Leena TAMMINEN-PETER, Ergosolutions BC Oy Ab – EN
PDF - 304.4 koAssessment of work-related risks: a necessary ergonomic conception – Jean-Pierre ZANA, French National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS) – EN

Cornerstone 4: Training. How do we train health workers to work safer? 
PDF - 304.4 koPreventing musculoskeletal disorders and training: FAQs – Diana ROBLA, Galician Health Service – EN
PDF - 304.4 koPreventing musculoskeletal disorders: from training to internal preventers: the example of the Institut Robert Merle d’Aubigné – Hélène ANTONINI-CASTERA, Institut Robert Merle d’Aubigné – FR

Closing remarks
PDF - 304.4 koClosing remarks: Maryvonne NICOLLE, CFDT Fédération Santé et Services Sociaux – FR, EN 
PDF - 304.4 koClosing remarks: Marta BRANCA, ARAN – EN

Abstract and biography:
PDF - 304.4 koAbstracts of presentations – EN
PDF - 304.4 koSpeaker’s biography – EN

HOSPEEM Newsletter – Conference highlights:
PDF - 304.4 koHOSPEEM Newsletter May 2015 – Special Issue

*** Back to main project page ***

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission

High participation at the High-level conference “A new start for social dialogue”

On 5 March 2015, the European Commission organised in Brussels the high-level conference A New Start for Social Dialogue, intended to give a new impetus to social dialogue at EU level, 30 years after Val Duchesse.

This first key event of the new European Commission gathered leaders of European and national social partners’ organisations (both cross-industry and sectoral) to discuss with the European Commission concrete ways to strengthen social dialogue and to ensure a more substantial involvement of social partners in EU policy-making. The European Commission was represented by President Jean-Claude Juncker, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue Valdis Dombrovskis and several Commissioners, among which Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs.

The HOSPEEM Secretary General Tjitte Alkema was invited to participate in a workshop on social dialogue and better regulation and to deliver a presentation to present his views on this topic.

At this occasion, the Public Services Employers’ Forum, an informal forum of European employers’ organisations cooperating on matters of joint interest, released a Joint Declaration.

 

OSH Project on musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work

               Project summary

HOSPEEM and EPSU have been provided financial support from the European Commission for a joint project entitled “Assessing health and safety risks in the hospital sector and the role of the social partners in addressing them: the case of musculoskeletal disorders and psycho-social risks and stress at work”. This project aims to implement one main priority of the work programme 2014-2016 of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector, i.e. the promotion of occupational safety and health.

Through this project, the social partners aim to identify how preventive actions can contribute to improved workers’ health and safety, to more attractive retention conditions in the hospital sector and to improved efficiency in the management of healthcare institutions by reducing the negative effects linked to these occupational risks. They also looked at and discussed the instruments needed to achieve healthy and safe working conditions. HOSPEEM and EPSU achieved these objectives through the exchange of knowledge and the identification of existing good practice (…) Read detailed project description.

PDF - 304.4 ko Download project summary – EN – FRDEESRUSV

                                                                    Timeline:

  • 2 October 2014, Brussels: Meeting of HOSPEEM and EPSU Secretariats
  • 12 November 2014, Brussels: kick-off meeting of the Steering Group
  • 25 March 2015, Paris: Social partners’ conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders
  • 4 June 2015, Brussels: Mid-term assessment and organisational meeting of the Steering Group
  • 10 November 2015, Helsinki: Conference on psychosocial risks and stress at work
  • 3 March 2016, Brussels: Final meeting of the Steering Group

Conference on approaches to the issue of musculoskeletal disorders, 25 March 2015

This first conference took place on 25th March 2015 in Paris (co-organised by FEHAP and supported by HOSPEEM) with around 90 participants from 16 EU Member States. The aim of the conference was to provide social partner organisations with a common understanding of the phenomenon of musculoskeletal disorders in the hospital sector and a clear picture of the concrete preventive measures they could take (…)

 

Conference on approaches to the issue of psychosocial risks and stress at work, 10 November 2015

The second conference of the joint HOSPEEM – EPSU project on occupational health and safety risks focused on psycho-social risks and stress at work and took place in Helsinki on 10 November 2015 (co-organised by JHL, Superlitto and Tehy and supported by EPSU).

 

Material and Guidance

This section presents documents (guidance, handbooks, training material etc…) on musculoskeletal disorders and on psychosocial risks and stress at work (…). Please note that this is work in progress.

 
This project has received funding from the European Commission