What is Workplace Integration Management?

Workplace integration management has been a statutory requirement in Germany under §167 SGB IX since 2004, implemented to assist employees who have been incapable of working for more than six weeks consecutively or repeatedly within a year. A collaborative partnership between employer and employee, BEM aims to explore reasons behind the employee’s incapacity for work and develop strategies to reduce or prevent future absences, thereby maintaining the job.

Purpose and benefits of BEM

• Early Intervention: To address the causes of workplace absences and implement measures that promote quicker recovery and reintegration into the workforce.
• Retention of Employment: Aims to maintain the affected employee's job position in the long-term by adapting workplace conditions if necessary.
• Mutual Benefit: Supports the employee's health and wellness while reducing economic losses for the employer due to prolonged absences.

How does BEM work?

The process typically begins by the employer reaching out to an employee once they meet the criteria of extended medical leave:

• Initial Contact: Employers initiate contact to discuss the possibility of starting an BEM process.
• Collaborative Planning: Starts when employee agrees to BEM and involves key stakeholders such as human resources, works councils, occupational health services, and possibly external rehabilitation providers to tailor a reintegration plan.
• Implementation of Measures: Depending on the individual's needs, measures could include workplace adjustments, medical rehabilitation, or vocational training.

Key measures in BEM

• Medical rehabilitation services: These are aimed at supporting health recovery.
• Participation in working life: Measures aimed at promoting professional integration.
• Supportive Services in the Workplace: Additional support provided by employment integration offices, focusing on sustaining employment and accommodating special needs.

Workplace integration management is crucial for creating a supportive and adaptive work environment. It not only helps in retaining valuable employees by addressing their health and rehabilitation needs but also enhances overall organizational resilience. By effectively implementing BEM, companies demonstrate a commitment to employee welfare and corporate social responsibility, leading to a more inclusive and productive workplace.