How Ringerike municipality strengthened employee health
Sickness absence fell by nearly 30 percent
Challenges before intervention
With a total of 2,400 employees, Ringerike Municipality averaged 200 sick employees per day in 2019. In health care, elder care, schools, and kindergartens, the organization faced high costs, high leadership turnover, many isolated initiatives with limited impact, and a lack of structured follow-up on absenteeism. Work-related causes of absence were often unknown, occupational health and safety practices were underdeveloped, and documentation was insufficient.
Measures and support
Avonova was engaged in 2019 to deliver occupational health services, which included:
- Mapping and analysis of sickness absence patterns
- Establishing structured routines for early follow-up
- Leadership training in rehabilitation processes
- A platform for dialogue and coordination among HR, line managers, and medical experts
- Ongoing monitoring and adjustment of interventions
Clear results and improved health
The interventions led to a marked reduction in both short-term and long-term absence. Between Q3 2019 and Q3 2023, total absence fell from 12.23 percent to 8.83 percent. This improvement reflects the effectiveness of Avonova’s holistic model and underscores the importance of continuous follow-up and collaboration.
