BGM Effort for SMEs
How much time and organizational effort does it take to introduce workplace health promotion (BGF) measures?
Note: figures reflect German regulations (SGB V, GKV subsidies). For SMEs (10–100 employees), structured BGM setup takes 4–8 hours, then 1–2 hours/month. BGF-Kompass automates analysis, planning, and reporting — no full-time HR required.
BGM effort over time (SME, 10–100 employees)
| Phase | Task | Time Investment | Who Does It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup (one-time) | Assess BGF maturity level, set up the survey, choose the first measure | 4–8 hours | Management or HR (+ BGF-Kompass onboarding) |
| Ongoing, monthly | Review metrics, coordinate measures, answer questions | 1–2 hours | Health guide or HR |
| Quarterly check | Measure impact, adjust measures | 2–3 hours | Management or HR with BGF-Kompass report |
| Year-end close | Annual report, GKV documentation, tax documentation | 3–5 hours | HR + tax advisor |
Phase 1: Setup (one-time, 4–8 hours)
The one-time setup effort is the biggest time block — and with BGF-Kompass, significantly smaller than with traditional BGM consulting. In practice, the 4–8 hours break down as follows:
- Assess your BGF maturity level (3 min. — immediately shows the most urgent action areas)
- Set up and launch the employee survey (about 1–2 hours of setup)
- Select and communicate the first measure from the BGF-Kompass measure catalog
- Appoint a health guide (optional, but recommended from 20 employees)
- Contact your GKV (statutory health insurance) partner about Section 20b subsidies (often just an email)
Phase 2: Ongoing operations (1–2 hours/month)
After setup, the workload drops dramatically. BGF-Kompass automatically handles data tracking, impact measurement, and documentation. Monthly coordination work is limited to:
Anyone who appoints an internal health guide (e.g., a motivated team member) can delegate this workload away from management. The guide coordinates measures and serves as the point of contact — no prior BGM expertise required.
- Check the BGF-Kompass dashboard: which metrics have changed?
- Ensure participation in ongoing measures (reminders, communication)
- Answer questions from employees
- Activate a new measure from the catalog as needed
When do I need external support?
For SMEs with up to 50 employees, an internal health guide using BGF-Kompass as a steering system is usually enough. Companies only need external consulting or a dedicated BGM officer once:
- Noticeable absenteeism (>5%) or psychological strain has been identified
- Complex risk assessments (shift work, physically demanding tasks) need to be created
- A collective bargaining agreement or works council demands a structured BGM concept
- GKV setting-based funding for measures over €10,000 is being applied for
A typical timeline for your first BGM year
In practice, a realistic timeline for the first year looks like this — based on SMEs using BGF-Kompass:
- Month 1: Setup + maturity check + launch survey (8 h)
- Month 2: Evaluate survey results + start first measure (3 h)
- Months 3–11: Ongoing operations (1–2 h/month)
- Month 12: Annual report + GKV documentation + tax documentation (5 h)
- Total Year 1: approx. 25–35 hours — spread across 12 months
Related measures & topics
Key takeaways
- Setup effort: 4–8 hours one-time (with BGF-Kompass onboarding).
- Ongoing effort: 1–2 hours/month — even without a dedicated HR department.
- An internal health guide is enough for SMEs with up to 50 employees.
- Year-1 total effort: approx. 25–35 hours — spread across 12 months.
- BGF-Kompass automates analysis, documentation, and reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my own HR department or a dedicated BGM officer?+
No. For SMEs with up to 50 employees, an internal health guide (e.g., a committed team member) using BGF-Kompass as a steering system is enough. Time investment is 1–2 hours/month after the setup phase — manageable even without prior BGM experience.
How long until I see the first results?+
Initial results (participation, survey response rate, feedback on measures) are visible after 4–6 weeks. Measurable impact on absenteeism and well-being typically shows after one quarter to six months, depending on your starting point and chosen measures.
Can I run BGM as a side project, or does it need its own dedicated project?+
BGM can be run as a side project — provided you have a digital steering system like BGF-Kompass. Without a tool, coordination overhead quickly builds up and erodes the ROI. With BGF-Kompass, it stays a realistic 1–2 hours/month.
How much work time does a health guide cost me?+
An internal health guide typically needs 1–3 hours/month for coordination and communication. Most companies don't create a separate position for this but free up 5–10% of the guide's working time — for a part-time employee (20 h/week), that's 1–2 hours/week.
Start BGM — in less than one workday
BGF-Kompass guides you through setup, the survey, and your first measure — including automatic documentation for GKV (statutory health insurance) and tax authorities.