Matthias Reich, Jürgen Fonger

(Szent Istvàn University, Gödöllő, Hungary)

 

 

Abstract: The German labor market, in particular the German small and medium sized enterprises (SME) as a part of the supply side of the labor market, has to deal with huge problems caused by a lack of skilled workers. Not only engineers are missing, but also mechanics, electricians and other craftsman. Among others the most important reason for this is the demographic change the German society is facing. In order to recruit the best qualified employees in the needed amount successfully, German companies will have to use all their possibilities to win the battle for the most talented employees. Especially SME will have to search for new paths to find the appropriate employees. One new approach could be to focus on disabled workers: On the one hand those who are already working within the company, on the other hand those which are new hired from the labor market. This article gives an overview about the impacts of the demographic change in Germany, especially for SME. Furthermore the examination illuminates the three different pillars of the Workplace Health Management (WHM): occupational safety, prevention and the Corporate Integration Management (CIM) and shows a theoretical approach how the Workplace Health Management could be able to support the integration of disabled people. Summarized, away from the advantages for the entire workforce, the WHM includes effective tools for the operational integration of disabled employees and thus can increase the efficiency of the companies.

 

 

Key words: disabled employees; workplace health management; SME; demographic change; human

resource management

 

JEL codes: M1, M5