Workplace wellness strategies for small businesses

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Raymond Rucker
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Research Gap ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Wellness Strategies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify strategies used within small- to mid-size organizations that run effective workplace wellness programs, and remedy a current research gap that exists in the available academic literature regarding this topic. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from four organizations in the form of case studies. Similarities, differences and patterns between different cases were explored, and thematic analysis was used to identify and explain meaningful commonalities between the programs studied. Findings The analysis revealed five overarching common concepts: innovation, company culture, employee-centric, environment, and altruism. Under these five concepts, 19 common themes were identified that represent common workplace wellness strategies. Research limitations/implications A relatively small number of participants were included in the study, which could be viewed as a limitation of the qualitative approach. Practical implications This study identified several strategies used by small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) with effective and viable workplace wellness programs and could help inform the practices of other small businesses. The study’s findings could also be applied to broader theory in organizational and social psychology. Social implications Strategies from this study potentially could be used to help improve the well-being of employees in SMBs. Originality/value The study challenges some of the established views on workplace wellness and provides a better understanding of the unique attributes of successful SMB programs, especially when compared to the attributes of workplace wellness programs operating in larger enterprises.

Employee well-being in smaller firms

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 16-19
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Innovation, work environment, employee-centric, company culture and altruism are identified as key concepts in workplace wellness for smaller businesses. It is critical that such firms focus on these concepts and the various themes incorporated within them. Companies that place employee well-being at the core of their strategies and address other key issues can enhance the effectiveness of their workplace wellness programs and increase both the return on investment and the more recently acknowledged value on investment. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Tackling workplace bullying

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 450-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexia Georgakopoulos ◽  
Michael P. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Bullying ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Mental Wellness ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to raise awareness of the benefits of wellness programs for contemporary organizations and aids in tackling workplace bullying. Design/methodology/approach This study used a qualitative design and employs a new empirical approach to tackle workplace bullying. With over a hundred working professionals engaged in focus groups and facilitation methodologies for a total of five workshops and 60 hours, this study suggests a new framework for intervening in workplace bullying that considers workplace wellness as a system. Findings The findings revealed that these professionals perceived workplace wellness as a formidable component of the health and success of employees, organizations, and community, and perceived workplace bullying as a serious threat to physical and mental wellness. Employee participation and involvement in the design of workplace wellness programs was viewed as essential to the success of these programs in organizations. Research limitations/implications This research has implications as it expands understanding and discovery into what aids employees to reduce their stress, fatigue, anxiety, and other conditions that lead to conflict or bullying in workplaces. It gives attention to a system of wellness that is vital to people and their organizations. Practical implications Study participants consistently asserted their desire to be active participants in establishing workplace wellness programs that effectively address workplace bullying, systems that enhance safety, and health. Social implications This study highlights the role organizations play in shaping individual and community physical and mental well-being, health, and safety through effective workplace wellness programs. Originality/value This study should be helpful to organizations and researchers looking to address workplace wellness, safety, and bullying in a context broader than just liability and the cost savings of employee physical health, and may further add to the discussions of workplace wellness policy and regulation.

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.

The future of workplace wellness programs

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Ho
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Costs ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Employee Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Manage Health Care ◽  
Care Costs

Purpose A comprehensive look at how technology, health plan design and employee communication can improve workplace wellness programs. Design/methodology/approach There are numerous ways for employers to enhance their workplace wellness programs, helping to improve employee health and more effectively manage health-care costs. Findings There are numerous ways for employers to enhance their workplace wellness programs, helping to improve employee health and more effectively manage health-care costs. Originality/value The paper is original to Strategic HR Review.

Overcoming barriers to entrepreneurship

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 21-23
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Developed Nations ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Economic Well Being

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – Guy Kawasaki once remarked that it is easy to generate ideas. Executing them is where the difficulty lies, he pointed out. Many failed budding entrepreneurs could certainly vouch for the sentiments of this former leading Apple employee. The importance of encouraging entrepreneurship has been widely acknowledged for several decades. Small businesses make a significant contribution to productivity, job creation and general economic well-being. Governments in many developed nations around the world obviously appreciate this. Consequently, various initiatives have been launched to stimulate and support the creation and growth of new ventures. Policies provide information and advice, with a particular focus on the often difficult initial start-up stages. Practical implications – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

scholarly journals What do Workplace Wellness Programs do? Evidence from the Illinois Workplace Wellness Study*

2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 1747-1791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damon Jones ◽  
David Molitor ◽  
Julian Reif
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Medical Expenditures ◽  
Employee Productivity ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Medical Spending ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs

Abstract Workplace wellness programs cover over 50 million U.S. workers and are intended to reduce medical spending, increase productivity, and improve well-being. Yet limited evidence exists to support these claims. We designed and implemented a comprehensive workplace wellness program for a large employer and randomly assigned program eligibility and financial incentives at the individual level for nearly 5,000 employees. We find strong patterns of selection: during the year prior to the intervention, program participants had lower medical expenditures and healthier behaviors than nonparticipants. The program persistently increased health screening rates, but we do not find significant causal effects of treatment on total medical expenditures, other health behaviors, employee productivity, or self-reported health status after more than two years. Our 95% confidence intervals rule out 84% of previous estimates on medical spending and absenteeism.

Ethical consumers' brand avoidance

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Rindell ◽  
Tore Strandvik ◽  
Kristoffer Wilén
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Specific Group ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ethical Concerns ◽  
Ethical Consumers ◽  
Consumer Values ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore ethical consumers' brand avoidance. The study contributes to brand-avoidance research by exploring what role consumers' ethical concerns play in their brand avoidance. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative approach is adopted by interviewing 15 active members of organizations that represent ethical concerns for the well-being of animals, the environment and humans. Findings – The study indicates that consumers with a strong value-based perspective on consumption (such as ethical consumers) may reject brands in two different but interrelated ways. In essence, the study reveals characteristics of brand avoidance that have not been discussed in earlier research, in terms of two dimensions: persistency (persistent vs temporary) and explicitness (explicit vs latent). Practical implications – The study shows the importance of considering the phenomenon of brand avoidance, as it may reveal fundamental challenges in the market. These challenges may relate to consumer values that have not been regarded as important or that have been thought of as relating only to a specific group of consumers. Originality/value – The ethical consumers' views represent new insights into understanding brand avoidance.

An exploratory study into organizational repatriates’ emotional support network

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lore Van Gorp ◽  
Smaranda Boroş ◽  
Piet Bracke ◽  
Peter A.J. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Support Providers ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informative Characteristic ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how repatriates’ emotional support network affects their experience of re-entry. Design/methodology/approach This inductive, qualitative study is based on 27 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Belgian organizational repatriates. Findings The analyses suggest that expatriation empathy is a key attribute of organizational repatriates’ main emotional support providers. In addition, the results show that although partners are a main source of emotional support on re-entry, they are also important potential causes of distress. Lastly, the results suggest that the cultural diversity of a repatriate’s emotional support network is linked with characteristics of the assignment and that it affects the experience of repatriation. Research limitations/implications The results provide empirical evidence that the expatriation empathy of repatriates’ support providers is a more informative characteristic to consider compared with whether they have personal experience of expatriation. In addition, the results suggest that research should also take into account the negative side of social support, and, for example, consider the influence of crossover distress of partners who experience relocation difficulties themselves. Practical implications This study points to the possible benefits of organizing social activities or training for repatriates and their partner and any children, as well as the advantages of encouraging expatriates to invite home-country friends to visit. Originality/value Although most scholars agree on the importance of support for expatriates’ well-being, the sources of relevant emotional support have received little research attention so far, as has how this influences the repatriation experience.

When I am old I shall wear purple: a qualitative study of the effect of group poetry sessions on the well-being of older adults

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Seymour ◽  
Michael Murray
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Poetry Reading ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose There is increasing evidence that participation in various art forms can be beneficial for health and well-being. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of participating in a poetry reading group on a group of older residents of an assisted living facility. Design/methodology/approach Six poetry sessions, each on a different theme, were conducted with a group of volunteer participants. These sessions, those of pre- and post-study focus groups and interviews with the group facilitator and staff contact were audio-recorded. The transcripts of the recordings were then subjected to a thematic analysis. Findings Overall the participants were enthused by the opportunity to participate in the project and the benefits were confirmed by the support staff. In addition, reading poetry on particular themes promoted different types of discussion. Research limitations/implications The number of participants in this study was small and the study was conducted over a short period of time. Practical implications This paper confirms the impact of poetry reading for older people. The challenge is to explore this impact in more detail and over community as well as residential settings. Originality/value This paper is the first empirical report on the value of poetry reading for older people.

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