Prepare for the WPA as a manager

January-March

Preparation, including discussions and agreements

How can you ensure that your unit benefits from the 2022 WPA? 
The WPA is a tool to help you take a proactive approach to the work environment, and you’ll get the most benefit from it if there’s clarity about who is involved, when and why. At this stage, you should discuss and agree on the terms of collaboration with the liaison committee, occupational health and safety committee, your manager, your management team and your staff.

Motivate your staff

A high response rate provides the best starting point for further work. Encourage your staff to support the process by informing and involving them before the questionnaires are sent out, and then on an ongoing basis during the process. For example, tell them: 

• What the WPA process looks like. Share the time schedule and expected process for dialogue meetings, action plan and follow-up.
• Talk about why we're conducting a WPA. Make sure in particular that new and international employees are informed about WPA. For example, use this PowerPoint at a department meeting.

Collaborate with liaison and occupational health and safety committees

Discuss and agree on:

• How you work together – e.g. who will do what? 
• How you will use the results to create value, for example, when and in what form? 
• Roughly how many initiatives will you prioritise to ensure that the work is appropriate and manageable? 

Coordinate with your own manager and management team

Discuss and agree on:

• How will you coordinate interfaces and collaborate based on your individual functions? 
• What actions and communication from you, as managers (jointly and individually) will contribute to a good outcome from the WPA? E.g. activities that contribute to employees feeling that the WPA process is useful.

Record the agreements in the calendar

• Send invitations for the meetings agreed and book meeting rooms, so that you are well prepared for the WPA process.