Steering Teens Safe: translation to a workplace wellness program in the USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karisa K Harland ◽  
Jingzhen Ginger Yang ◽  
Corinne Peek-Asa
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Process ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Parent Communication ◽  
Safe Driving ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Workplace Setting ◽  
Total Worker Health

Abstract Parent-based teen driving interventions have been shown to increase safe teen driving but few have been translated beyond the research setting. As employers focus more on total worker health, the workplace offers a unique opportunity to implement a safe teen driving program into a workplace wellness program. The aim of this study was to adapt the evidence-based, parent-focused teen safe driving program Steering Teens Safe (STS) into workplace wellness programs, and to evaluate the implementation process and effect on parent–teen communication. The Replicating Effective Programs framework was used to modify STS to fit the workplace setting. The implementation process of the STS workplace wellness program was measured using direct observation and recordings of parent communication trainings while the effectiveness was measured by parent questionnaires. Forty-five parent employees across three businesses participated in the study. STS trainers were skilled in training parents in effective communication, including using open-ended questions and reflections. Parents reported increased success in conversations with their teens regarding safe driving through increased affection, receptivity, trust and equality in conversations. Workplaces may play a key role in assisting parents with teaching their children about safe driving.

Commentary on the Study: “What Do Workplace Wellness Programs Do? Evidence From the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study”

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-444
Author(s):  
Ron Z. Goetzel
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
The University ◽  
Health And Well Being

Recently, several high-profile randomized clinical trials conducted with employees at the University of Illinois and BJ’s Wholesale Club have questioned the value of workplace health and well-being programs. This commentary focuses on the latest research published in The Quarterly Journal of Economics by authors Jones, Molitor, and Reif who evaluated the iThrive wellness program. The commentary challenges the study’s main finding that wellness programs (in general) do not work. Several perspectives are explored including whether the evaluated programs are well-designed, sufficiently potent, and appropriate candidates for randomized trials. The article also asks what role employers can or should play in improving the health and well-being of Americans given recent troubling statistics showing a decline in life expectancy and an increase in health risks.

Let’s work out: communication in workplace wellness programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tricia J. Burke ◽  
Stephanie L. Dailey ◽  
Yaguang Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Social Influence ◽  
Organizational Socialization ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Health Related

Purpose People spend a lot of time communicating with their co-workers each day; however, research has yet to explore how colleagues influence each other’s health behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between health-related communication and health behaviors among co-workers in a workplace wellness program. Design/methodology/approach Participants (n=169) were recruited from a large south-western university and its local school district through e-mail announcements sent from a wellness administrator. Participants were part of a workplace wellness program that offers several daily group fitness classes, as well as cooking classes, and other educational programs for faculty and staff. Findings Structural equation modeling was used to examine the association between people’s perceived social influence and social support from co-workers, organizational socialization and their health behaviors. Results indicated that perceived social influence from co-workers had an indirect effect on people’s health behaviors through their perceived social support from their co-workers, as well as through their organizational socialization. Research limitations/implications These variables were examined cross-sectionally, meaning that causal relationships and directionality cannot be determined in this study. Practical implications Co-worker communication and socialization appear to be important factors in understanding individuals’ health behaviors; thus, organizations that offer workplace wellness programs should provide opportunities for socialization and co-worker communication to facilitate employees’ healthy behaviors. Originality/value Although the authors only looked at one wellness program and did not examine these variables in programs of varying sizes and types, this study uniquely incorporates interpersonal and organizational communication perspectives in order to give new insight into co-workers’ health-related communication.

Workplace Wellness Programs

2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1510-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent L. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs

Workplace Wellness Programs: A Comparison Between Best Practice Guidelines And Implementation

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Zula
Keyword(s):  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Employee Wellness ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
Management Association ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
E Mail

This paper describes a study to determine best practice guidelines for employee wellness programming amongst organizations and/or employers. A sample of convenience (n = 200) from a local human resource management association was surveyed via e-mail with an internet based questionnaire containing 19 items regarding employee wellness programming, activities, effectiveness, and measurement. The results indicated that Best Practice Guidelines can be established from empirical literature. In addition, the findings indicate employers are implementing best practice guidelines in their existing workplace wellness activities. Most employers are participating in and engaged in workplace wellness activities which utilize effective communication, continuous improvement, accessible and involve employees, and partner with existing and established business relationships to create wellness activities. One area which requires further evaluation and development is the engagement of leadership within organizations.

Medical Care Savings From Workplace Wellness Programs

2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Howard Bolnick ◽  
Francois Millard ◽  
Jonathan P. Dugas
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs

Incentives, Program Configuration, and Employee Uptake of Workplace Wellness Programs

2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijing Huang ◽  
Soeren Mattke ◽  
Benajmin Batorsky ◽  
Jeremy Miles ◽  
Hangsheng Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document