Managers’ experiences of the Workplace Dialogue : a digital support for detecting and acting on work-related ill-health
(2025) In International Journal of Workplace Health Management 18(3). p.263-279- Abstract
Purpose: The Workplace Dialogue is a digitalized method directed at managers. The purpose of this study was to explore managers’ experiences of using the digital Workplace Dialogue in cases of employee ill-health. Design/methodology/approach: The Workplace Dialogue provides an easy and accessible method for managers, including text, short films, client examples and concrete guides that provides support in how managers can act in the event of ill-health, for example, by creating dialogue and adjustments at work. A total of five public and private organizations participated in a cohort study, implementing and using the Workplace Dialogue for one year. We interviewed 22 managers to explore their experiences of using the Workplace Dialogue.... (More)
Purpose: The Workplace Dialogue is a digitalized method directed at managers. The purpose of this study was to explore managers’ experiences of using the digital Workplace Dialogue in cases of employee ill-health. Design/methodology/approach: The Workplace Dialogue provides an easy and accessible method for managers, including text, short films, client examples and concrete guides that provides support in how managers can act in the event of ill-health, for example, by creating dialogue and adjustments at work. A total of five public and private organizations participated in a cohort study, implementing and using the Workplace Dialogue for one year. We interviewed 22 managers to explore their experiences of using the Workplace Dialogue. The interviews were analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis. Findings: The experiences of using the Workplace Dialogue are presented in one overall theme: Supports and strengthens managers’ leadership and ability to handle and act on work-related health, and four sub-themes: Requires organizational legitimacy, Facilitates management of work-related health, Strengthens manager–employee collaboration and Contributes to leadership development. The Workplace Dialogue was described as a method that contributed to better work-related health by emphasizing the early identification of problems. Manager–employee collaboration was improved, and responsibilities were made clearer. Using the method enabled personal development among managers. Some prerequisites were pointed out, such as a need for time and support from the organization. Originality/value: The Workplace Dialogue can support managers in addressing and acting on cases of employee ill-health.
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- author
- Sondell, Anna ; Widar, Linda ; Stigmar, Kjerstin LU ; Norström, Fredrik ; Fjellman-Wiklund, Anncristine and Eskilsson, Therese
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Leadership, Occupational health, Qualitative research, Work rehabilitation, Workplace intervention
- in
- International Journal of Workplace Health Management
- volume
- 18
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 17 pages
- publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105000273690
- ISSN
- 1753-8351
- DOI
- 10.1108/IJWHM-03-2024-0049
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3e493b6c-d690-4f11-bf1f-2539e52f85bc
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-12 12:48:19
- date last changed
- 2026-01-12 12:49:38
@article{3e493b6c-d690-4f11-bf1f-2539e52f85bc,
abstract = {{<p>Purpose: The Workplace Dialogue is a digitalized method directed at managers. The purpose of this study was to explore managers’ experiences of using the digital Workplace Dialogue in cases of employee ill-health. Design/methodology/approach: The Workplace Dialogue provides an easy and accessible method for managers, including text, short films, client examples and concrete guides that provides support in how managers can act in the event of ill-health, for example, by creating dialogue and adjustments at work. A total of five public and private organizations participated in a cohort study, implementing and using the Workplace Dialogue for one year. We interviewed 22 managers to explore their experiences of using the Workplace Dialogue. The interviews were analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis. Findings: The experiences of using the Workplace Dialogue are presented in one overall theme: Supports and strengthens managers’ leadership and ability to handle and act on work-related health, and four sub-themes: Requires organizational legitimacy, Facilitates management of work-related health, Strengthens manager–employee collaboration and Contributes to leadership development. The Workplace Dialogue was described as a method that contributed to better work-related health by emphasizing the early identification of problems. Manager–employee collaboration was improved, and responsibilities were made clearer. Using the method enabled personal development among managers. Some prerequisites were pointed out, such as a need for time and support from the organization. Originality/value: The Workplace Dialogue can support managers in addressing and acting on cases of employee ill-health.</p>}},
author = {{Sondell, Anna and Widar, Linda and Stigmar, Kjerstin and Norström, Fredrik and Fjellman-Wiklund, Anncristine and Eskilsson, Therese}},
issn = {{1753-8351}},
keywords = {{Leadership; Occupational health; Qualitative research; Work rehabilitation; Workplace intervention}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{263--279}},
publisher = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
series = {{International Journal of Workplace Health Management}},
title = {{Managers’ experiences of the Workplace Dialogue : a digital support for detecting and acting on work-related ill-health}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-03-2024-0049}},
doi = {{10.1108/IJWHM-03-2024-0049}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2025}},
}