Views of the workplace as a health promotion arena among managers of small companies

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
pp. 950-960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Wiman ◽  
Marie Lydell ◽  
Maria Nyholm
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
External Support ◽  
Occupational Health Services ◽  
Small Companies ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Latent Content

Introduction: Several studies have shown that workplace health promotion leads to better health, increased productivity, as well as reduced absenteeism and presenteeism among employees. The objective of this study was to describe how managers in small companies (10–19 employees) perceive their company as an arena for promoting employees’ health. Method: A sample of 10 managers (four women) was strategically selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each person. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis focused on both manifest and latent content. Results: Three main categories emerged from the analysis: the potential to promote employees’ health, responsibility as an employer and the need for external support. An arena for workplace health promotion is created when managers prioritise health at the workplace. Conclusion: Small companies often lack the knowledge and resources to manage health and safety problems and also have less access to occupational health services. This paper highlights the importance of the views of small company managers as resources for the development of health promotion.

Identifying Health and Safety Risks for Childcare Workers

AAOHN Journal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 321-325 ◽  
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.

Health Promotion in the Workplace – The Merging of the Paradigms

2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 278-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yassi
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
The Individual

Summary Purpose: To synthesize the lessons from both occupational health and health promotion, to improve workplace health. Approach: This article briefly outlines the evolution in defining and understanding health promotion as well as current thinking in occupational health and safety.It also discusses an approach taken in the healthcare sector in British Columbia, Canada, where evidence-based practices and collaboration became the cornerstones to bringing about change and achieve impressive cost-beneficial results in healthcare workforce health. Conclusion: Traditionally, workplace health promotion and occupational health and safety have been two solitudes. Workplace health promotion is rooted in ‘wellness’ and healthy lifestyle choices, while occupational health is heavily dictated by workplace health and safety requirements and legislation. Recently however, there has been increasing recognition of the need for a more holistic approach that focusses on workplace culture, addressing both primary and secondary prevention [1], as well as interventions aimed both at the individual as well as the organisation [2].

scholarly journals Opportunities and Challenges of Using Mobile Applications for Workplace Health Promotion

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Maren Junker ◽  
Markus Böhm ◽  
Frederik Edwards ◽  
Helmut Krcmar
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Participation Rates ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Ways Of Working

Workplace health promotion (WHP) needs be adjusted to the new ways of working and improved in terms of participation rates. As mobile applications (apps) have proved to be effective in various health areas, it might also be a solution for WHP. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the requirements employees would have on such an app for WHP. Therefore, 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and experts of an IT company. Most employees were rather positive about such an app. Concerns were stated in terms of added value and data security. Variations were found in preferred functionalities. Apps might thus be effective for WHP but would need to add value compared to apps available for private usage. Additionally, clear communication about data privacy would be expected.

scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitative Factors in the Implementation of Workplace Health Promotion Activities in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko Saito ◽  
Miyuki Odawara ◽  
Hirokazu Takahashi ◽  
Maiko Fujimori ◽  
Akiko Yaguchi-Saito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Prevention Activities ◽  
Health Managers

Abstract Background: It is reasonable to target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a workplace to promote the implementation of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) for reducing health inequalities. Previous literature reveals various barriers that SMEs face during implementation, such as a lack of time, accessibility, and resources. However, few studies have comprehensively examined those influential factors at multi-levels. This study aims to identify the factors influencing the implementation of non-communicable disease prevention activities (tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity, and health check-up) in SMEs using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Methods: We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with health managers and/or employers in 15 enterprise, and four focus groups among public health nurses/nutritionists of health insurers who support SMEs in four prefectures across Japan. A qualitative content analysis by a deductive directed approach was performed. After coding the interview transcript text into the CFIR framework constructs by two independent researchers, the coding results were compared and revised in each enterprise until an agreement was reached.Results: Of the 39 CFIR constructs, 25 were facilitative and 7 were inhibitory for workplace health promotion implementation in SMEs, which were across individual, internal, and external levels. In particular, the leadership engagement of employers in implementing the workplace health promotion activities was identified as a fundamental factor which may influence other facilitators, including “access to knowledge and information,” “relative priority,” “learning climate,” at organizational level, and “self-efficacy” at health manager level. The main barrier was the beliefs held by the employer/manager that “health management is one's own responsibility.” Conclusions: Multi-level factors influencing the implementation of non-communicable diseases prevention activities in SMEs were identified. In resource-poor settings, strong endorsement and support, and positive feedback from employers would be important for health managers and employees to be highly motivated and promote or participate in health promotion. Future studies are needed to develop context-specific strategies based on identified barriers and facilitative factors, and empirically evaluate them, which would contribute to narrowing the inequalities in worksite health promotion implementation by company size.

scholarly journals Obstacles and Perspectives. Considerations on Health Promotion Activities Performed for Older Workers in Europe

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Magnavita
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Health And Safety ◽  
Workplace Health

The ageing of workers is one of the most important issues for occupational health and safety in Europe. A number of intervention studies on health promotion for older workers were conducted in European workplaces between 2000 and 2015. This review gives an overview of these studies and considers perspectives for workplace health promotion.

Opportunities and Challenges of Using Mobile Applications for Workplace Health Promotion

2022 ◽  
pp. 663-680
Author(s):  
Maren Junker ◽  
Markus Böhm ◽  
Frederik Edwards ◽  
Helmut Krcmar
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Data Privacy ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Participation Rates ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
New Ways Of Working ◽  
Clear Communication

Workplace health promotion (WHP) needs be adjusted to the new ways of working and improved in terms of participation rates. As mobile applications (apps) have proved to be effective in various health areas, it might also be a solution for WHP. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the requirements employees would have on such an app for WHP. Therefore, 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and experts of an IT company. Most employees were rather positive about such an app. Concerns were stated in terms of added value and data security. Variations were found in preferred functionalities. Apps might thus be effective for WHP but would need to add value compared to apps available for private usage. Additionally, clear communication about data privacy would be expected.

scholarly journals Strategies of active dissemination of workplace health promotion

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Friedrich ◽  
Susanne Hoffmann ◽  
Georg Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Real Life ◽  
External Support ◽  
Tobacco Prevention ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Research

Purpose – A growing body of literature provides evidence for the efficacy of workplace health promotion (WHP). However, little is known about effective dissemination strategies for WHP interventions. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a WHP agency in Zurich, Switzerland, used bulk mailings, information events, telephone marketing and free initial consultations for the large-scale geographic marketing of WHP services, with a focus on tobacco prevention (TP). Design/methodology/approach – To analyze the number of companies responding positively to solicitation, examine the predictors of positive responses and explore the reasons for negative responses, the authors used both quantitative (e.g. a standardized questionnaire) and qualitative (telephone interviews) methods. Findings – The results show that except for telephone marketing (69 percent), the success rates of dissemination activities were very low (3-9 percent). Predictors for a positive response were institutionalization of WHP, the representative’s personal concern about TP, and problems with environmental tobacco smoke within the company. The most prominent reason for a negative response was that the companies had already implemented TP measures by themselves and needed no further external support. Practical implications – It is suggested that TP was the wrong emphasis for a WHP program to be disseminated at that particular time, because a law on protection from passive smoking was introduced in Switzerland shortly afterwards. Originality/value – The study examines dissemination strategies under real-life consulting conditions. It builds on on a large sample of companies and uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods. It reports specific numbers and success rates of marketing activities and thereby contributes to the knowledge about an important issue for intervention planning in the field of WHP.

scholarly journals Workplace Health Promotion in German Social Firms—Offers, Needs and Challenges from the Perspectives of Employees, Supervisors and Experts

2022 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 959
Author(s):  
Ann-Christin Kordsmeyer ◽  
Ilona Efimov ◽  
Julia Christine Lengen ◽  
Volker Harth ◽  
Stefanie Mache
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Sport Nutrition ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Telephone Interviews

On the general labor market, social firms provide 30–50% of people with different types of disabilities the opportunity to gain employment. However, the topic of workplace health promotion (WHP), needs for improvement and accompanied challenges are neglected in the current research and were the focus of the present study. Therefore, data triangulation was used between July and December 2020 by combining three focus groups with employees (n = 14 employees) with 16 interviews with supervisors from several social firms in Northern Germany (e.g., from catering, cleaning or bicycle repair sectors). 17 semi-structured telephone interviews with experts in the field of WHP or social firms were added. All approaches were audio-taped, transcribed and anonymized. To analyze the data, Mayring’s qualitative content analysis was used. The results indicated that several offers for WHP, including sport, nutrition and relaxation, were offered, as well as those on smoking cessation, cooperation with external organizations or training and education offers. Needs for improvement were stated referring to additional sport offers, support for implementing a healthy diet, offers for relaxation, financial incentives or collaborations with external organizations. A low take-up of offers; a lack of resources, structures or management support; compatibility of offers with work time and organization; challenges with available trainings or the consideration of individual needs and capacities were highlighted as challenges. Overall, there is a need for further interventional and longitudinal research on WHP in social firms.

scholarly journals Works councils and workplace health promotion in Germany

2021 ◽  
pp. 0143831X2097105
Author(s):  
Uwe Jirjahn ◽  
Jens Mohrenweiser ◽  
Stephen C Smith
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Market Failures ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Works Councils ◽  
Moderating Factors ◽  
Works Council

From a theoretical viewpoint, there can be market failures and organizational failures resulting in an underprovision of occupational health and safety. Works councils may help mitigate these failures. Using establishment data from Germany, the empirical analysis in this article confirms that the incidence of a works council is significantly associated with an increased likelihood that the establishment provides more workplace health promotion than required by law. This result also holds in regressions accounting for the possible endogeneity of works council incidence. Furthermore, analysing potentially moderating factors such as collective bargaining coverage, industry, type of ownership, multi-establishment status and product market competition, the article finds a positive association between works councils and workplace health promotion for the various types of establishments examined. Finally, this study goes beyond the mere incidence of workplace health promotion and shows that works councils are positively associated with a series of different measures of workplace health promotion.

Workplace health promotion interventions for Australian workers with intellectual disability

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-333
Author(s):  
Hannah Meacham ◽  
Jillian Cavanagh ◽  
Timothy Bartram ◽  
Patricia Pariona-Cabrera ◽  
Amie Shaw
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Health Empowerment ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Film Making

Summary Workplace health promotion (WHP) and the general wellbeing of workers in the Australian workforce should be a priority for all management. Our study argues that management support for workers with an intellectual disability (WWID) can make a difference to their health promotion and ultimately their participation in the workforce. We adopt a qualitative approach, through semi-structured interviews with 22 managers, across various organizations, to examine their perspectives around the WHP of WWID. We integrate the key values of WHP; rights for health, empowerment for health and participation for health (Spencer, Corbin and Miedema, Sustainable development goals for health promotion: a critical frame analysis, Health Promot Int 2019;34:847–58) into the four phases of WHP interventions; needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation (Bortz and Döring, Research Methods and Evaluation for Human and Social Scientists, Heidelberg: Springer, 2006) and examine management perspectives (setting-based approach) on WHP of WWID. Where this integration had taken place, we found some evidence of managers adopting more flexible, innovative and creative approaches to supporting the health promotion of WWID. This integration seemed to drive continuous improvement for WWID health promotion at the workplace. We also found evidence that some organizations, such an exemplar film company, even over deliver in terms of supporting WWID needs by encouraging their capabilities in film making interventions, whilst others are more direct in their support by matching skills to routine jobs. Our approach demonstrates that incorporating key WHP values into the four-phase WHP framework is critical for the effective health promotion of WWID.

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