"What brings you to me? – I ask an open-ended question and then the employees explain their concern." This is how, the initial consultation begins in the confidential stress counseling, says Dr Monika Herzog. She has been working as a medical specialist at Boehringer Ingelheim's occupational health services since 2017. The topics with which employees turn to Monika are versatile. What they have in common, however, is that they revolve around mental health and often around the question of how we integrate its aspects into our working life.
Mental disorders affect one in eight people worldwide and can impact many areas of life – from relationships with family and friends to daily work. And so, there are also persons affected at Boehringer Ingelheim. Among the topics with which they turn to Monika are psychological burdens caused by conflicts in the family or at work, ill relatives, own mental illnesses or addiction issues.
Boehringer Ingelheim's commitment to the wellbeing of its employees also stands out in the certification as Global Top Employer 2023 that has been awarded by the Top Employers Institute. This includes above-average results in employee benefits in the areas of "wellbeing", "work environment" and "rewards and recognition".
"There is a strong need to shed a light on mental health at work and in life, and that is why I care so much about this field of work. I want to convey an understanding that mental disorders are medical conditions like any other; so that affected people are not stigmatized", explains Monika.
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Dr Monika Herzog in her physician room
With combined strengths
Monika is a trained medical specialist in neurology and occupational medicine with additional qualifications for specialized psychotherapy and primary care in addiction medicine. Drawing from her years of clinical experience in the field of psychiatry and psychotherapy, she dedicates a lot of time to our employees. "Up to one hour for the initial consultation in order to give the participants the opportunity to open up and to describe the problem." The aim of the stress counselling is at first to map out this problem – the definition of the medical question, so to speak – and, if necessary, to make a diagnosis. In a next step, it will be discussed what concrete offers of help could look like. Here, the stress counselling can draw on the holistic healthcare management at Boehringer Ingelheim, which does not only include measures for mental health, but also for physical and social health as well as financial security. This also includes the individual employee consultation with which Monika is in regular exchange.
The staff at the occupational health services look at the employee's concern from the medical point of view. The individual employee consultation looks from the psychosocial perspective at how the individual affected person can be supported with different offers. "We come together – always under the condition that we have been released from medical confidentiality – because it often makes sense to take different perspectives for the solution of a problem and to consider: What does a person need? How can I help him or her now?" One example is the participation in company integration management. "Our goal is always to reintegrate our employees into the job, and I think that's phenomenal to work on it as a team with combined forces," Monika sums up.
Support from within
The initial consultation with Monika Herzog is followed by an offer for further appointments. The aim is to demonstrate that there is someone to whom those affected can turn and to provide low-threshold access. Monika explains: "I want to offer help, communicate when and how I’m available. I meet some several times in a shorter period and some at intervals of a few years. And it gives me great pleasure when I receive feedback from the employees saying that they are doing better or well again."
And there is more to Monika's area of responsibility. She commits half of her working time to mental health counselling. The other half is filled with occupational health activities such as medical check-ups, aptitude tests, workplace inspections, vaccination as well as medical travel consultation, and much more. Monika knows the company and gets to know the people and their needs through the operational processes. She can bring this back into the counselling. "This internal network is a huge advantage of Boehringer Ingelheim. I really enjoy looking after employees in a company in which we can drive measures together. Here, we can contribute ideas and the employees are heard. That's great."
Monika describes that a people-oriented corporate culture can achieve a lot beyond the specific offers. It is about providing employees with the opportunity to have honest, open and confidential discussions. With her work, she wants to contribute to mental disorders being even better accepted by the working environment. What makes a good employer for Monika Herzog? Appreciation, compatibility of work and family, positive cooperation and, that the individual needs of employees are given space. She finds all of that at Boehringer Ingelheim: "It is exciting for me to work for a family-owned company that lives and passes on clear values. And this includes being supported by the company during and after periods of illness and not having to fear for your job. On the contrary, we jointly consider how everyday working life can be reconciled with a longer-lasting or chronic illness."