Prevention starts with seeing people
09-11-2026 - How can workplaces help prevent alcohol problems before they lead to sickness absence, personnel issues or safety risks? At a high-level meeting with the Norwegian government and social partners, KONGSBERG shared its experience with systematic prevention, early intervention and the importance of supportive managers.
On 6 November, KONGSBERG participated in a high-level meeting on workplace alcohol prevention, hosted by Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre and Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng.
The meeting brought together government representatives, employers' and employees' organisations, and the Akan Competence Centre to discuss how Norwegian workplaces can help reduce harmful alcohol use, sickness absence and people leaving employment.
Ørjan Stengelsrud, Executive Vice President of People & Organisation at KONGSBERG, was invited to share the company's experience in preventing substance use problems and supporting employees.
Supportive managers make a difference
For KONGSBERG, preventing substance use and addiction problems is an important part of creating a safe and inclusive workplace.
As an international technology and defence company, KONGSBERG operates in an environment with demanding requirements for safety, quality and reliability. This makes it particularly important to identify potential problems early and create a workplace culture where employees feel comfortable asking for help.
"We have been working on prevention for a long time. Employees who are keeping secrets can quickly become a vulnerability in a company like KONGSBERG. That is why it is so important to have managers who make employees feel safe, pay attention to them and start a conversation when 'something' changes," Stengelsrud said.
He emphasised that prevention is not only about procedures and regulations, but also about trust and managers who know their employees.
A central principle of KONGSBERG's approach is that clear expectations and individual support must go hand in hand. Employees experiencing substance use or addiction problems should have access to help and follow-up support while the company's safety requirements are maintained.
A long-standing partnership with Akan
KONGSBERG has worked systematically on substance use prevention for many years in cooperation with the Akan Competence Centre.
In 2017, KONGSBERG received the national Akan Award in recognition of its efforts to prevent addiction problems, develop knowledge and share information among managers, employee safety representatives and staff.
This work continues through established procedures, training and dedicated personnel.
KONGSBERG has a joint management and employee Akan committee operating under its Working Environment Committee. The committee focuses on prevention, information and competence development. It meets four times a year and organises an annual professional development day. The company also has designated Akan contacts who serve as resource persons and advisers.
When an employee needs individual follow-up, an Akan agreement can be established. This is not a treatment programme, but a tool that provides structure and predictability in everyday working life. Support is tailored to the individual and coordinated by the employee's immediate manager, with assistance from HR and, where appropriate, occupational health services.
The aim is to ensure that employees receive the necessary support and, wherever possible, can remain in employment.
"We must be clear about what we expect from our employees, but also about what they can expect from us as an employer," Stengelsrud said.
The workplace is an important setting for prevention
According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's 2019 study Alcohol and Working Life II, 15% of employed people reported risky alcohol consumption. Estimates published by Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse in 2018 suggested that alcohol-related sickness absence and reduced productivity could cost Norwegian working life up to NOK 13 billion annually.
Through the high-level meeting, the government and social partners aim to strengthen cooperation on alcohol prevention in the workplace.
"I am pleased that we have managed to bring together the social partners to highlight the importance of alcohol prevention measures. Workplaces that systematically implement Akan measures can help reduce sickness absence and prevent people from leaving employment, which is an important priority for this government," said Minister of Health and Care Services Jan Christian Vestre.
Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng stressed the importance of addressing problems before they have more serious consequences.
"The workplace is important, and it is equally important that individuals do not lose their connection to working life. By addressing challenges at an early stage, workplaces can provide valuable support to people experiencing problems. Agreement and openness create a sense of security and predictability for both employees and managers. Procedures and follow-up can help reduce the risk of sickness absence and people leaving employment, benefiting both workplaces and individuals," she said.
Prevention before problems arise
The Akan Competence Centre works to encourage more Norwegian businesses to introduce systematic preventive measures before substance use and addiction problems develop into serious challenges.
"We are in daily contact with Norwegian businesses, which often approach the Akan Competence Centre when a situation has already become difficult. Our goal is to encourage more businesses to work preventively, before a specific personnel case arises," said Siri Gåsemyr Staalesen, Director of the Akan Competence Centre.
For KONGSBERG, this means building knowledge, fostering trust and giving managers the confidence to initiate difficult conversations when they notice that an employee may need support.
Through its long-standing cooperation with the Akan Competence Centre, KONGSBERG has established a systematic approach combining prevention, clear expectations and individual follow-up.
Ultimately, the aim is to protect employees, maintain a healthy working environment and ensure safety throughout the organisation.
Source: KONGSBERG, 9 November 2026. Forebygging starter med å se menneskene, published via NTB Kommunikasjon.
