Prevention starts with recognising people’s needs

On 6 November, KONGSBERG participated in a high-level meeting on alcohol prevention in the workplace, hosted by Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre and Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng.

The meeting brought together government representatives, employers' and employees' organisations, and the Akan Competence Centre to discuss how Norwegian workplaces can help reduce harmful alcohol consumption, sickness absence and people leaving the workforce.

Ørjan Stengelsrud, Executive Vice President of People & Organisation at KONGSBERG, was invited to share the company's experience of prevention and employee support.

Supportive leadership makes a difference

For KONGSBERG, preventing substance use and addiction-related problems is an important part of creating a safe and inclusive workplace.

As an international technology and defence company, KONGSBERG operates in an environment with stringent requirements for security, quality and reliability. This makes it particularly important to identify challenges early and foster a culture in which employees feel comfortable asking for help.

He emphasised that prevention is not just about procedures and regulations, but also about trust and leaders who know their employees.

A central principle of KONGSBERG's approach is that clear expectations and individual support must go hand in hand. Employees experiencing substance use or addiction-related challenges should be able to receive help and follow-up support while ensuring that the company's security requirements are maintained.

A long-standing partnership with Akan

KONGSBERG has worked systematically to prevent substance use problems for many years, in collaboration with the Akan Competence Centre.

In 2017, KONGSBERG received the national Akan Award in recognition of its work on preventing addiction-related problems, developing expertise and sharing information among managers, employee safety representatives and employees.

This work continues through established procedures, training and dedicated support personnel.

KONGSBERG has a joint management and employee Akan committee under its Working Environment Committee, responsible for prevention, information sharing and competence development. The committee meets four times a year and organises an annual professional development day. In addition, the company has dedicated Akan contacts who serve as advisers and support resources.

When employees require individual follow-up, an Akan agreement can be established. This is not a treatment programme, but a tool that provides structure and predictability in the working environment. Follow-up is tailored to the individual and managed by their immediate line manager, with support from HR and, where appropriate, the occupational health service.

The aim is to ensure that employees receive the support they need and, wherever possible, can remain in employment.

"We must be clear about what we expect from our employees, but also about what they can expect from us as an employer," said Stengelsrud.

The workplace is an important setting for prevention

According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's 2019 Alcohol and Working Life II study, 15 per cent of employed people engage in risky alcohol consumption. Estimates from Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse in 2018 indicated that alcohol-related sickness absence and reduced productivity could cost Norwegian working life up to NOK 13 billion annually.

Through the high-level meeting, the Norwegian government and social partners aim to strengthen cooperation on alcohol prevention measures.

"I am pleased that we have brought together the social partners to highlight the importance of alcohol prevention measures. Workplaces that take a systematic approach to Akan-related activities can help reduce sickness absence and prevent people from leaving the workforce, which is important to this government," said Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre.

Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng emphasised the importance of intervening before challenges have more serious consequences.

"The workplace is important, and it is equally important to ensure that individuals do not fall out of employment. By addressing challenges at an early stage, workplaces can provide valuable support to those experiencing difficulties. Agreement and openness create a sense of security and predictability for both employees and managers. Procedures and follow-up can help reduce the risk of sickness absence and people leaving the workforce, benefiting both workplaces and individuals," said Stenseng.

Prevention before problems arise

The Akan Competence Centre works to encourage more Norwegian organisations to establish systematic preventive measures before substance use and addiction-related problems develop into serious challenges.

"We are in daily contact with Norwegian organisations, which often approach the Akan Competence Centre when a situation has already become difficult. Our goal is to encourage more organisations to take preventive action before a specific personnel matter arises," said Siri Gåsemyr Staalesen, Director of the Akan Competence Centre.

For KONGSBERG, this means building expertise, fostering trust and giving managers the confidence to have difficult conversations when they recognise that an employee may need support.

Through its long-standing collaboration with the Akan Competence Centre, KONGSBERG has established a systematic approach that combines prevention, clear expectations and individual follow-up.

Ultimately, it is about protecting employees, maintaining a safe working environment and protecting the company's operations.