Josephine Engels
Professor of Occupation & Health
Josephine Engels conducts applied research in the domain occupation and health, sustainable employability, and work participation of people with a chronic disease. Besides research, (health) consultancy and education are also domains of interest. Furthermore, organisational advice is developed based on research results.
The research conducted by Josephine Engels and her fellow professor, Yvonne Heerkens, focuses on two research domains:
- Sustainable employability
- Working with a chronic disease
Working with a chronic disease
Work is an important part of people's lives. It is rewarding, fulfilling and, of course, it pays the bills. Work can become a challenge for people with a chronic disease. Josephine Engels conducts research to learn about the factors that influence paid employment. The findings of this research can improve employees' prospects and help them manage their own quality of life in all its dimensions, including the area of work. Various professionals play an important role in coaching vulnerable groups of people to help them keep their jobs or return to work. These professionals need to be aware of the importance of their role in this process.
Contributing to health policies / sustainable employability
Our research group focuses mainly on health professionals who deal with the relationship between actual complaints (related to health and other matters) and work participation. In addition to prevention of work risks (e.g. working in shifts) and finding a good match between work and workers, the focus is also on healthy working (e.g. lifestyle and the work-home balance). Increasingly more employers and employees take their own responsibility for achieving a state of healthy working. Tailored interventions can help employees and employers contribute to sustainable employability.
Background
Together with Yvonne Heerkens, Josephine has been a professor of Occupation & Health since January 2003. ‘Work is an important aspect in many people´s lives. I´m curious about the contribution of employment to people's health. The members of our research group discuss relevant themes together with the professional field and we conduct research based on questions asked by these professionals.’ In addition to her appointment as professor, Josephine Engels is a member of the Supervisory Board of Soweco, a sheltered workshop for six municipalities in the Dutch province of Overijssel.
Expertise areas
- Research
- Sustainable employability
- Working with a chronic disease