THE IMPACT OF METAL AGE® TRAINING PROGRAMME ON THE WELL-BEING OF LATVIAN OFFICE WORKERS

There are many factors that affect the well-being and health of employees and the productivity of organisations. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the Metal Age training programme (MA®) on the well-being of office workers, including investigation of work ability, the stress-causing factors and role of leadership. The study was carried out using questions from four international questionnaires about stress, leadership, and work ability. The intervention group had a training course between the surveys using the ME® method. Several employee stress-causing factors were identified: bad relationship with their workmates was mentioned by 94% of workers;competitive and strenuous atmosphere — by more than 80%; psychological violence or bullyingat the workplace by more than 80%, and more than 75% of employee’s could not relax after work. Wellness and microclimate in the workplaces were on a relatively high level: the average rating of seven Kiva questions was 7.5. The respondent attitude after ME® did not change significantly.Latvian office workers displayed moderate and good work ability (Work Ability Index, WAI34.5–38.6). The best work ability was shown in the age group from 20 to 49 (WAI 34.8–39.4);work ability decreased with age. The best correlation was observed between Work Ability Index and “get into situations, that invoke negative feelings” (r = 0.26) and “carrying out ongoing tasks because of other intervening or more urgent matters” (r = –0.24). After ME® the reaction to some stress-causing factors was improved.