Työterveyshuollon digitalisoituvat palvelut: kokemuksia etätyöterveysneuvottelujen hyödyistä, haitoista ja edistävistä tekijöistä

Authors

• Sanna Helena Pesonen Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8377-5391
• Erja Sormunen Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0146-5753
• Inka Koskela Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9315-7060
• Soile Seppänen Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki
• Elina Weiste Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6879-6004

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.146505

Keywords:

videoconferencing, remote services, qualitative research, occupational health care, work ability

Abstract

Joint negotiations are an important occupational health cooperation procedure for the promotion of employees’ ability to work and their continuing to work. Join negotiation takes place between occupational health services, employers and employees to support employees’ work ability and return to work. With digitalisation, remote joint negotiations have become more common in support of work ability, but previous studies on joint negotiations have focused on face-to-face negotiations. This study examines the benefits, challenges and factors promoting the implementation of remote joint negotiations from the perspectives of occupational health care, employer representatives and employees who participated in negotiations. The data consisted of the individual theme interviews (n=37) after 10 remote joint negotiations. The data was analyzed using inductive content analysis.

In our study, the benefits, challenges, and enabling factors of remote joint negotiations were related to practical arrangements and interaction. In terms of practical arrangements, the participants experienced efficiency, flexibility and health safety as benefits, while problems related to the used method of negotiation, technology and privacy protection arose as challenges. Advance preparation and solving technical problems were rated to promote the smoothness of the practical arrangements. In terms of interaction, the possibility to be focused on the issue and the facilitation of the flow of the conversation were perceived as benefits. The remote interaction varied by participant group. Especially the employees found the negotiation atmosphere and the lack of smoothness of the conversation a challenge. Remote interaction was promoted by building a trusting atmosphere and supporting participation. Sufficient attention should especially be paid to supporting employee participation opportunities. In summary, it can be stated that representatives of occupational health services and workplace play a central role in solving technical problems, creating favorable negotiation conditions, and supporting participation so that negotiations proceed smoothly, and the goals of work ability support are achieved.