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Workplace health promotion (WHP), which is supported by networks and business partners, is an important issue of corporate social responsibility. In an interview-study with enterprise and industry representatives, we analyzed whether WHP as one aspect of CSR is already realized within the supply chain and how interactions within the supply chain and networks can be described in terms of WHP. The results showed that issues of occupational safety are relevant within business relationships, but WHP in general is found to be less so. Networks outside the supply chain are often used to support WHP. The most-mentioned practice to ensure occupational health in supply chains is the control of suppliers (e.g., through audits). Collaborations (e.g., joint projects) were somewhat less stated. In conclusion, enterprises need to establish internal structures to conduct successful WHP within their supply chain. Future research should investigate factors that foster or hinder the process of establishing WHP within supply chains.

BACKGROUND: The workplace has been identified as a priority setting for health promotion. There are potential advantages of systematically integrating Occupational Health Management (OHM) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). However, OHM and CSR are usually overseen by different management branches with different sets of values, and there is a lack of empirical research regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR. Germany offers a particularly useful setting due to legislation requiring health to be promoted in the workplace. This study aims to examine key stakeholders' views and experiences regarding interfaces between OHM and CSR in German companies. METHODS: Individual semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 77 German stakeholders from three different groups: experts in occupational health and corporate social responsibility from various companies (n = 35), business partners (n = 19), and various non-business partners (n = 23). Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Participants identified several areas in which OHM and CSR are already interacting at strategic, structural and cultural levels, but also highlighted several barriers that undermine a more meaningful interaction. Participants reported difficulties in articulating the underlying ethical values relevant to both OHM and CSR at the strategic level. Several structural barriers were also highlighted, including a lack of resources (both financial and knowledge), and OHM and CSR departments not being fully developed or undertaken at entirely different operational levels. Finally, the missing practical implementation of corporate philosophy was identified as a critical cultural barrier to interfaces between OHM and CSR, with existing guidelines and companies' philosophies that already connect OHM and CSR not being embraced by employees and managers. CONCLUSIONS: There is already significant overlap in the focus of OHM and CSR, at the structural, strategic and cultural levels in many German ...