LIFETIME EXHIBITION
INTERNATIONAL DAY - OCTOBER 25, 2002

Title: Workplace Health Promotion - International Experiences & Good Practices

Background
The International Institute for Health Promotion (IIHP) at American University in Washington, DC is hosting the International Day at the Second Lifetime Messe in Frankfurt on October 25 (http://www1.lifetime-messe.de/lifetime2001/). The focus of the international program is on health promotion at the workplace - international experiences and good practices. The IIHP is an interdisciplinary network of approximately 220 institutions involved in health promotion from 50 plus countries (http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/cas/health/iihp/index.html

Concept
The International Day will bring an array of distinguished international speakers in the health promotion field to the Lifetime Messe and therefore provide a unique learning and networking opportunity for visiting professionals. As chronic diseases have become the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, there has been a recent increased focus in the international community on the importance of maintaining or improving one's health status through the practice of health-enhancing activities. Especially the corporate world has taken on the challenge of fighting chronic disease and improving the quality of life of individuals. Specifically, a number of multinational corporations are taking a close look at the health status of their global workforce and are consequently designing and implementing health promotion programs. Numerous well-designed programs have shown an increase in productivity, reduction in health care costs, and improved morale among employees. The International Day will highlight some of these success stories or "good practices" and open the door for international learning and cooperation.

Program (October 25)
The morning will feature leading experts from the European Commission (European Network for Workplace Health Promotion), from individual European countries (EU and Eastern Europe) and the US, who will discuss strategies, policies and best practices. Some of the featured topics are:

  • Physical Activity at the Workplace
  • International Cooperation in Workplace Health Promotion
  • Health Promotion at the Workplace: a Topic for the European Union?
  • Global Strategies in Workplace Health Promotion
  • Training the Health Professional for Globalization
  • What can European Companies learn from their US Counterparts? Do Health Promotion Programs really reduce health care costs?
  • The Working Environment of the Future - an Example from Norway
  • Future Challenges of Workplace Health

In the afternoon, several European corporations will present their health promotion programs and models (success stories and challenges). The day will end with a corporate roundtable in which the presenters will discuss current challenges and trends.

A meeting of European IIHP members will take place on October 26th. Please contact Wolf Kirsten at wolfkirsten@t-online.de for more information.

SCHEDULE

  • 9:00-9:30 Opening session - Introduction to topic
    International Cooperation in Workplace Health Promotion - the IIHP Network
    Wolf Kirsten (IIHP)

  • 9:30-10:00 Topic I: Health Promotion at the Workplace - a Topic for the European Union?
    European Network for Workplace Health Promotion (BKK)

  • 10:00-10:30 Corporate Case Study: Human Capital Management at Goldman Sachs
    Neil Snowball

  • 10:30-10:45 Break

  • 10:45-11:15 Topic II: What can European Companies learn from their US Counterparts?
    Bob Karch (American University, Washington, DC)

  • 11:15-12:30 Topic III: Roundtable: Physical Activity at the Workplace
    Finn Berggren (Gerlev, Denmark)
    Kevin Sykes (Chester College, UK)
    George Dumitru (University of Constanta, Romania)
    European Network of Fitness Associations (ENFA)

  • 12:30-13:30 Lunch

  • 13:30-14:15 Tour through Exhibition Hall

  • 14:15-16:30 Corporate Case Studies: Caixa Geral de Depositos,
    Lagunaro-Mondragon, ENFA
    (invited)

  • 16:30-17:30 Roundtable Discussion with corporate representatives
    Moderator: Bob Karch

More detailed information on the schedule and speakers will follow.
 
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