The Work Ability Index (WAI) is an instrument developed in Finland for assessing employees' work ability. It was developed at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH).
Work Ability Concept
WAI is based on the "House of Work Ability" with four floors:
- Health (physical and mental)
- Competence (knowledge, skills)
- Values and attitudes (motivation)
- Work (demands, leadership, community)
Structure of WAI
The questionnaire comprises 7 dimensions:
- Current work ability compared to lifetime best
- Work ability in relation to job demands
- Number of current diseases
- Estimated impairment due to diseases
- Sick leave days in the past 12 months
- Estimate of work ability in 2 years
- Mental resources
Evaluation
WAI scores range from 7-49 points:
- 7-27: Critical – restore work ability
- 28-36: Moderate – improve work ability
- 37-43: Good – support work ability
- 44-49: Excellent – maintain work ability
Practical Application
WAI complements psychological risk assessment with an individual perspective and is particularly suitable for workplace health management.