"Healthy Employees Shape a Healthy Company"

Often, people first notice tension or headaches, which can later develop into persistent muscular imbalances or even acute spinal disc problems: Many people strain their bodies unevenly in daily life or move too little or incorrectly. To raise employee awareness for their health, GEALAN has launched a cross-state collaboration with the health insurance providers AOK Bayern and AOK Plus (Thuringia) at its two German locations. The goal of this cooperation is to improve the health competence of GEALAN’s employees because, as Claudia Wolfrum, Head of Learning and Development at GEALAN, emphasizes: "Healthy employees shape a healthy company." Besides musculoskeletal dysfunctions, the cooperation also examines other physical and mental burdens such as smoking, excessive stress, or unhealthy nutrition, with health experts providing practical solutions.  

"Prevention is Better than Cure!"

"Prevention is better than cure!" once recognized Dr. Christoph Hufeland, a pioneer of preventive medicine. "That's why promoting health at work is so important to us at AOK," stresses Carolin Ruckdeschel from the AOK Directorate Hof-Wunsiedel, supporting the local implementation of the cooperation: "Because prevention at work means taking health seriously before burdens arise by offering employees appropriate measures during their daily work. This lays the foundation for growing health awareness." 

"BackCheck" during Health Day: Measures employees’ muscle and spine strength and stability, then offers valuable personalized training tips. (Photo: GEALAN)

Health Days in Tanna and Oberkotzau

During a total of five Health Days, GEALAN employees recently had the opportunity for check-ups and consultations. At both the Thuringian site in Tanna and the Upper Franconian headquarters in Oberkotzau, AOK representatives and orthopedic and diagnostic specialists were on site. GEALAN employees could book various appointments including expert diagnostics and valuable everyday tips. Health experts tested back muscle and spine mobility in the “MobeeFit” program, analyzed the data, and provided individual training recommendations. The “BackCheck” program measured muscle and spine strength and stability and checked balance between front and back muscles. Here too, employees received personalized reports and expert advice for balance and improvement. Additionally, AOK specialists were available all days to advise on current services and health offerings.  

"The Health Days were very well received at both sites," summarizes Claudia Wolfrum about the recent initiative. "All sessions in Oberkotzau were fully booked, and at the production site in Tanna about 80 percent participation was achieved despite the challenges of shift work."  

“MobeeFit”: After mobility tests, evaluation with health experts follows. (Photo: GEALAN).  

Feedback from participating GEALAN employees was consistently positive, Claudia Wolfrum reports: "Everyone we spoke to found the offer very helpful. Often, people don’t feel pain yet even though their muscles are already weakened or unevenly developed. Then they are glad and grateful to work preventively before any symptoms appear." 

Alongside initiatives like the Health Days, GEALAN offers monthly mini-challenges to raise employee awareness for their own health and recurring offers addressing potential mental health burdens. Planned for 2026 are also consultations and workshops focusing on smoking cessation and healthy nutrition.  

Modern measurement technology and helpful know-how at the GEALAN Health Day in Tanna. (Photo: GEALAN).

Excursus: Concrete benefits of Workplace Health Promotion are diverse

Various measures within Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) can positively affect the physical and mental condition of employees. The benefits are usually highest when the measures address both working conditions (environmental prevention) and the individual (behavioral prevention): On one hand, employees are supported in changing their behavior. On the other, work and the work environment are made healthier. Especially measures that promote a healthy leadership culture impact both behavior and conditions.