In the Inclusive Working Life (INKA) research programme, researchers are working to identify barriers and facilitators for how a working life can be designed that promotes equality and better health for all workers.
Inequalities in labour market access and occupational health are evident in in the working population in Sweden and globally based on gender, country of birth and health status. Differences in life conditions can lead to challenges for workers in entering the working life, remaining at work throughout their working years, and/or in returning to work after an absence and to experience a health-promoting working life.
Within the INKA research program, researchers the University of Gävle's three faculties work in interdisciplinary teams together with companies, organizations, and researchers from other universities to address the complex question of how to use work and work organization as a platform to minimize inequality and promote better health for employees. Through collaboration, INKA tackles actual working life challenges that organizations, employees and people outside the working life experience.
The INKA program addresses societal challenges linked the UN's Agenda 2030 Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Research projects within the INKA program fall within three areas: Access to Working Life, Remaining at Work and Returning to Work.
These research projects focus on overcoming challenges in labour market access for vulnerable groups including, immigrants and people with long-term ill-health issues.
Project name:
What facilitates inclusion in working life for nurses with education from countries outside the EU?
Aim:
To examine what is facilitating for nurses educated in countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland to have an inclusive and healthy working life in Sweden.
Collaborating partners:
The Swedish Board of Health and Welfare
Project coordinator:
Denice Högstedt, RN, PhD-student & Maria Engström (Main supervisor), RN, PhD, Professor at the University of Gävle
Other research team members:
Elisabet Eriksson, RN, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the University of Gävle, Inger Jansson, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor at University of Gothenburg Doctoral students: Denice Högstedt
Funding:
University of Gävle
Time period:
On-going, started in 2019
These research projects focus on physical, psychosocial and organizational factors that contribute health promoting work such that all employees have an equal chance at remaining at work throughout their entire working life.
Project name:
Intended Retirement Timing – a study of older workers in long-term elder care
Aim:
To study older workers’ intended retirement timing, and its association with health, family- and work-related factors.
Project coordinator:
Peter Öberg
Other research team members:
Peter Öberg, Gunnar Bergström, Pia Tham Doctoral students: Carolina Nordlinder
Funding:
University of Gävle
Time period:
2019-
These research projects focus on the path back to work after having an exit from the labour market, taking into account individual characteristics and organizational aspects.
Project name:
Can-Work-S: Supporting cancer survivors’ working life and health
Aim:
To identify cancer-related health- and labour market consequences and to support cancer survivors to work, better health and a health-promoting working life.
Project coordinator:
Anna Efverman
Doctoral students:
Kristina Tödt, Linda Eklund, Jessica Nordlander
Funding:
Forte, Cancerforskningsfonden i Norrland, Bröstcancerfonden, Benny Frengens forskningsfond, Centrum för Klinisk Forskning (CKF) Dalarna, CKF Region Gävleborg, Cancerstiftelsen i Kronoberg, Ester Åsberg Lindbergs stiftelse
Time period:
2021 - ongoing
Are you an organization experiencing challenges in creating an inclusive and health-promoting work environment for your employees? Contact us about opportunities for developing new research projects and partnerships towards creating a more inclusive and health-promoting working life.
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Associate professor in Healthcare Science, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies.
E-mail: anna.efverman@hig.se
Tel:
Assistant Professor, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies.
E-mail: jennie.jackson@hig.se
Phone: 026-64 82 93
