Employers’ views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing: a qualitative study
Pescud et al. BMC Public Health
Employers' views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing: a qualitative study
Melanie Pescud 0 1
Renee Teal 1
Trevor Shilton 2
Terry Slevin 3
Melissa Ledger 3
Pippa Waterworth 1
Michael Rosenberg 1
0 Regulatory Institutions Network (RegNet), The Australian National University , Acton , Australia
1 Health Promotion Evaluation Unit , 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009 , Australia
2 National Heart Foundation (WA) , Subiaco , Australia
3 Cancer Council WA , Shenton Park , Australia
Background: The evidence surrounding the value of workplace health promotion in positively influencing employees' health and wellbeing via changes to their health behaviours is growing. The aim of the study was to explore employers' views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing and the factors affecting these views. Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, 10 focus groups were conducted with employers selected from a range of industries and geographical locations within Western Australia. The total sample size was 79. Results: Three factors were identified: employers' conceptualization of workplace health and wellbeing; employers' descriptions of (un)healthy workers and perceptions surrounding the importance of healthy workers; and employers' beliefs around the role the workplace should play in influencing health. Conclusions: Progress may be viable in promoting health and wellbeing if a multifaceted approach is employed taking into account the complex factors influencing employers' views. This could include an education campaign providing information about what constitutes health and wellbeing beyond the scope of occupational health and safety paradigms along with information on the benefits of workplace health and wellbeing aligned with perceptions relating to healthy and unhealthy workers.
Workplace health promotion; Employers; Focus groups; Health and Wellbeing
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Background
Prevention of chronic diseases is an important global
health issue [1, 2]. Unhealthy lifestyle practices such as
poor nutrition, physical inactivity, alcohol use, and
smoking can contribute to the chronic disease burden and
significantly impact population health outcomes [3, 4]. At
the workplace, unhealthy lifestyles have been shown to
reduce productivity and increase absenteeism and
presenteeism [3, 5]. Workplaces provide access to a considerable
proportion of the adult population and as such are an
ideal setting for health promotion initiatives [3, 6–8].
Therefore, programs aimed at the workplace have the
potential to reach a large segment of the population who
might not be exposed to other health promotion initiatives
[9]. Workplaces also provide an opportunity for tailoring
programs and health messages to meet specific needs of
industry segments and demographic groups.
Health promotion efforts are usually directed towards
improving the health of a workforce through initiatives
such as health risk assessments, vaccinations, and
wellness activities targeted at improving healthy eating,
physical activity, cigarette use, alcohol consumption, and
mental health outcomes [5, 6, 10, 11]. Another area that
influences the health of employees, but is often
considered separate from health promotion, is occupational
health and safety or health protection. Occupational
health and safety encompasses efforts that prevent injury
or illness due to workplace specific exposures, by
conducting safety training, environmental modification, and
the provision of and use of personal protective
equipment [6]. There is often an overlap between health
promotion and health protection (e.g., creating smoke
free zones) and there are calls to integrate both areas
because both contribute to the overall health and wellbeing
of employees [6]. Further, in many jurisdictions, health
protection is codified in occupational health and safety
or similar regulations. Health and wellbeing in the
workplace can be viewed as a broad concept comprised of
personal satisfaction; work-life satisfaction; and general
health which is a combination of mental/psychological
health and physical/physiological health [12].
The evidence surrounding the value of workplace
health promotion in positively influencing employees’
health and wellbeing via changes to their health
behaviours is growing [13–19]. Several factors influencing the
implementation of workplace health promotion
programs have been identified [20]. These factors act at
multiple levels of influence with implementation
determinants including characteristics of the socio-political
context, the organisation, the implementer, the
intervention program, and the individual [20]. A range of
stakeholders share an interest in workplace health promotion
ranging from employers and employees to insurance
companies, occupational physicians, various government
departments, labour unions, universities, and
organisations with a health promoting focus [21]. At the level of
the organisation, two (...truncated)