Workplace health promotion and employee health in Swedish municipal social care organizations

Purpose – Factors for successful workplace health promotion (WHP) are well described in the literature, but often sourced from evaluations of wellness programmes. Less well understood are the features of an organisation that contribute to employee health which are not part of a health promotion programme. The purpose of this paper is to inform policy on best practice principles and provide real life examples of health promotion in regional Victorian workplaces. Design/methodology/approach – Individual case studies were conducted on three organisations, each with a health and wellbeing programme in place. In total, 42 employers and employees participated in a face to face interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and the qualitative data were thematically coded. Findings – Employers and senior management had a greater focus on occupational health and safety than employees, who felt that mental/emotional health and happiness were the areas most benefited by a health promoting workplace. An organisational culture which supported the psychosocial needs of the employees emerged as a significant factor in employee's overall wellbeing. Respectful personal relationships, flexible work, supportive management and good communication were some of the key factors identified as creating a health promoting working environment. Practical implications – Currently in Australia, the main focus of WHP programmes is physical health. Government workplace health policy and funding must expand to include psychosocial factors. Employers will require assistance to understand the benefits to their business of creating environments which support employee's mental and emotional health. Originality/value – This study took a qualitative approach to an area dominated by quantitative biomedical programme evaluations. It revealed new information about what employees really feel is impacting their health at work.

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Workplace health promotion and working conditions as determinants of employee health

International Journal of Workplace Health Management ◽

10.1108/ijwhm-02-2013-0003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 89-104 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Cecilia Ljungblad ◽

Fredrik Granström ◽

Lotta Dellve ◽

Ingemar Åkerlind

Keyword(s):

Work Environment ◽

Sickness Absence ◽

Social Care ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Work Conditions ◽

Employee Health ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Psychosocial Work ◽

Content Type ◽

Self Rated Health

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate general psychosocial work conditions and specific workplace health promotion (WHP) measures in relation to employee health and sickness absence in Swedish municipal social care organizations. Design/methodology/approach – In a random sample of 60 out of the 290 municipalities in Sweden, 15,871 municipal social care employees working with elderly and disabled clients were sent a questionnaire concerning psychosocial work environment, WHP, and self-rated health. The responses (response rate 58.4 per cent) were complemented by register data on sickness absence (>14 days). All data were aggregated to employer level. Findings – A structural equation modelling analysis using employer-level data demonstrated that employers with more favourable employee ratings of the psychosocial work conditions, as well as of specific health-promoting measures, had better self-rated health and lower sickness absence level among employees. Practical implications – The results from this representative nationwide sample of employers within one sector indicate that employers can promote employee health both by offering various health-specific programmes and activities, such as work environment education, fitness activities, and lifestyle guidance, as well as by forming a high-quality work environment in general including developmental and supportive leadership styles, prevention of role conflicts, and a supportive and comfortable social climate. Originality/value – This study with a representative nationwide sample demonstrates: results in line with earlier studies and explanations to the challenges in comparing effects from specific and general WHP interventions on health.

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1187 What Types Of Organizations Provide Sleep-focused Workplace Health Promotion Programs For Their Employees? An Analysis Of The 2017 CDC Workplace Health In America Survey

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.1181 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. A453-A454

Author(s):

R Robbins ◽

E Rosenberg ◽

L K Barger ◽

M Weaver ◽

S F Quan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Employee Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Public Companies ◽

Non Profit ◽

Health Promotion Programs ◽

Nationally Representative ◽

Workplace Health Promotion Programs

Abstract Introduction There has been a rise in workplace health promotion programs (WHPP)’s in the U.S., designed to improve a variety of employee health behaviors such as exercise and nutrition. Yet, relatively few focus on the third pillar of health: Sleep. Methods The CDC collected data from a nationally-representative cohort of companies in 2017. Participants in this Workplace Health in America study completed online surveys reporting the type of WHPP offerings at their worksite and characteristics of their worksite, including occupational field (e.g., agriculture, management, wholesale/retail), workforce size (i.e., small: <100; moderate: 100-499; and large: 500+) and company type (e.g., non-profit, profit-private, profit-public, government). We identified factors associated with an increased likelihood of sleep-focused WHPP using logistic regression adjusted for company size and type. Analyses were weighted for nationally-representative estimates. Results Of the N=2,843 companies that provided information, N=261 (11.74%) reported having a sleep program. Worksites with large workforces (OR=4.8, p<0.0005), for-profit public companies (OR=9.0, p<0.0005), in wholesale/retail (OR=3.8, p<0.0005), and those with employer-subsidized full health insurance (OR=12.7, p<0.0005) were more likely to have a sleep-focused WHPP. Other predictors included more long-standing WHPP programs (6 years, OR=4.4, p<0.0005), the presence of employee health in the company’s mission (OR=4.5, p<0.0005), leadership buy-in (OR=3.5, p=0.007), and an annual health promotion budget >$50,000 (OR=11.3, p<0.0005). Conclusion In general, workplaces with higher budgets, more well-established health promotion programs, and a mission to promote workplace health are more likely to include a sleep program. Also, publicly-traded companies and government were more likely than private companies to have a sleep program. Future research may consider defining barriers among small business and non-profit organizations for implementing sleep-focused workplace health programs. Support T32HL007901

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Effective Workplace Health Promotion in the Network Society: the Role of Communication

SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO ◽

10.3280/sl2018-150012 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 218-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gea Ducci ◽

Lella Mazzoli

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Network Society ◽

Workplace Health

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Truckies and the Australian transport industry: Managers’ perspectives about enablers and inhibitors to workplace health promotion

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-203365 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Marguerite C. Sendall ◽

Alison Brodie ◽

Laura K. McCosker ◽

Phil Crane ◽

Marylou Fleming ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Road Transport ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Transport Industry ◽

Health Promotion Interventions

BACKGROUND: There is little published research about managers’ views on implementing and embedding workplace health promotion interventions. OBJECTIVE: To shed light on research-to-practice challenges in implementing workplace health promotion interventions in the Australian road transport industry. METHODS: In this Participatory Action Research project, managers from small-to-midsized companies in the Australian road transport industry were asked their views about enablers and barriers to implementing nutrition and physical activity interventions in their workplace. RESULTS: Managers identified practical assistance with resources, ideas, and staffing as being key enablers to implementation. Barriers included time restraints, worker age and lack of interest, and workplace issues relating to costs and resources. CONCLUSION: Manager perspectives add new insights about successful implementation of workplace health promotion. A Participatory Action Research approach allows managers to develop their own ideas for adapting interventions to suit their workplace. These findings add to a small body of knowledge of managers’ views about implementing workplace health promotion in small-to-midsized road transport companies - a relatively unexplored group. Managers highlight the importance of time constraints and worker availability when designing interventions for the road transport industry. Managers require a good understanding of the workplaces’ socio-cultural context for successful health promotion and health behaviour change.

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Workplace Health in Kentucky: A Statewide Comparison

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105473 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5473

Author(s):

Gretchen Macy ◽

Jacqueline Basham ◽

Cecilia Watkins ◽

Vijay Golla

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Occupational Safety And Health ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Positive Direction ◽

Research Software ◽

Safety And Health ◽

Statewide Assessment

The objectives of this study were to assess the state of Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health programs, to ensure the ability to comprehend any possible trends over the past six years in the state’s progress in offering workplace health promotion and health protection programs, to compare the results of this survey with the 2013 Kentucky state-wide assessment, and to identify gaps in Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health based on Total Worker Health® (TWH) concepts. Using Qualtrics research software, the Workplace Health in America assessment was sent to companies located in Kentucky and having 10 or more employees. Participants were identified using Dun and Bradstreet’s Hoover’s database. The results showed that, as with the 2013 survey, larger workplaces significantly were more likely to offer workplace health promotion programs than smaller companies (X2 = 24.30; p < 0.001). However, more companies (78%) reported offering programs compared to the 2013 assessment (49%). Given the results of the current study as compared to the statewide assessment conducted in 2013, Kentucky’s WHP is moving in a positive direction; yet, there is still much to be done. There remains a strong need to provide cost-effective and accessible resources for all elements of TWH to small workplaces.

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Identifying Health and Safety Risks for Childcare Workers

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.1177/216507990705500804 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (8) ◽

pp. 321-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Belinda J. McGrath

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Safety Issues ◽

Safety Risks ◽

Health Promotion Programs ◽

Childcare Workers ◽

Health And Safety Risks

Childcare workers are exposed to several health and safety risks in their work environment, the most common being infectious diseases, musculoskeletal injuries, accidents, and occupational stress. Pregnant childcare workers have an additional risk of potential harm to the fetus. Occupational health nurses can work collaboratively with childcare workers to reduce these risks and provide workplace health promotion programs. This article explores the occupational health and safety issues for childcare workers and suggests health promotion strategies that could be implemented by occupational health nurses working in this arena.

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