“By combating work-related crime, there is potential for significant improvements in
occupational health and safety.”
Work-related crime affects workplaces worldwide, posing challenges for occupational health and safety.
To explore this critical issue, we spoke with Monica Kaltenbrunner, leader for the upcoming workshop, Exploring Occupational Health, Safety & Work-Related Crime: A Multi-Level Approach.
From Psychiatry to Occupational Health Research
Monica Kaltenbrunner began her career as a registered nurse specializing in psychiatry before transitioning to teaching and eventually earning a PhD in Occupational Health Science. Now part of the Swedish Agency for Work Environment Expertise, she has dedicated her career to understanding and improving workplace environments.
“My interest in occupational health grew during my time as a teacher, where I met a researcher who inspired me to pursue this field. That meeting made me realize that a career in research was possible,” Kaltenbrunner explains.
“Improving workplace safety requires better collaboration.”
One of the highlights of Kaltenbrunner’s career has been using research to influence change at multiple levels. “It’s incredibly rewarding to learn new methods, interact with researchers, and see how our work can shape policy and practices,” she shares. However, challenges remain, such as recruiting participants and effectively communicating findings beyond academia.
Why Work-Related Crime Matters in 2025
Work-related crime remains a pressing issue due to its multifaceted impact. Beyond the traditional focus on tax evasion, work-related crime has expanded to create parallel societies, motivating increased efforts to combat it. Businesses involved in such activities often neglect occupational health and safety, exploiting opportunities for additional profit.
“Workers may be reluctant to report misconduct due to their fear of losing their jobs, and as they often also benefit from the arrangement, improving working conditions can be challenging,” explains Monica Kaltenbrunner.
To effectively address work-related crime, a comprehensive understanding of its various aspects is essential. “Knowledge about how it is conducted and evolves over time, evaluations of activities and interventions combating work-related crime, as well as the impact of work-related crime on the work environment, are all critical areas of research,” Kaltenbrunner emphasizes. Furthermore, an international perspective is necessary given the transnational nature of the problem.
However, work-related crime will continue to be a significant issue in 2025 due to changes in its nature, the internationalization of exploitation, and the slow adaptation of legal frameworks. “By combating work-related crime, there is potential for significant improvements in occupational health and safety.”
The Workshop: Insights and Practical Tools
The upcoming workshop in Stockholm aims to equip participants with knowledge about how work-related crime effects the work environment and occupational health and strategies to address it. “This workshop offers expert-led sessions, case studies, and interactive exercises to deepen participants’ understanding of different aspects of work-related crime,” Kaltenbrunner explains.
What participants can expect:
- Expert insights: Learn from experienced professionals in the topic across diverse fields.
- Case studies: Practical examples of work-related crime, how they are handled, and what effect it has on the work environment.
- Interactive exercises: Opportunities to discuss issues related to the topic with experts in the field.
“Participants will leave the workshop with a stronger grasp of how work-related crime affects individuals, workplaces and society and how challenges related to work-related crime can be prevented,” she concludes.
Workshop: Exploring Occupational Health, Safety & Work-Related Crime: A Multi-Level Approach 12th – 13th of March 2025, Scandic Anglais, Stockholm, Sweden
More information: Workshop web page | Workshop registration | Last registration date: 6.2.2025
