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.

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.

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.

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.

For Better or For Work: Dual Discourses in a Workplace Wellness Program

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 612-626 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Dailey ◽  
Tricia J. Burke ◽  
Emmalene G. Carberry
Keyword(s):  
Family Policy ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Workplace Wellness Programs ◽  
Work Family ◽  
A Site

Despite the ubiquity of workplace health promotion (WHP) programs, research has yet to address how employees make sense of the various meanings surrounding free wellness time at work. Through interviews with 30 participants of a workplace wellness program, this study uncovered organizational and employee discourses surrounding health at work. In sharing their health narratives, employees drew on dual discourses, expressing multiple meanings in the program’s rationale, workers’ participation, and the results of workplace health initiatives. Our findings contribute to WHP literature by proposing workplace wellness programs as a site of struggle, drawing attention to the role of agency in WHP participation, extending managerialism in WHP outside the corporate setting, and connecting workplace wellness scholarship to the meaning of work and work–family policy research.

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.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Food practices and their meanings in the daily routine of a university

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Fernanda GALESI-PACHECO ◽  
Carla Maria VIEIRA ◽  
Milena Cristina Sendão FERREIRA ◽  
Maria Rita Marques de OLIVEIRA
Keyword(s):  
Research Team ◽  
Wellness Programs ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Daily Routine ◽  
Healthy Foods ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Dietary Practices ◽  
Food Practices ◽  
Emerging Themes ◽  
The University

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed at knowing and analyzing sociocultural meanings of the daily dietary practices revealed by a university community, in the context of a wellness program to their community and its surroundings. Methods The research team ran 28 workshops with the participation of 34 university units and 558 subjects in total. All workshops were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was performed with the identification of emerging themes and categories. Results From the analysis of this material four categories emerged. There is the desire caused by the pleasure of having meals in a group of people and consuming foods rich in fat and sugar, but with its consumption shrouded by guilt. Healthy foods were considered important but related to obligation and displeasure. The community also wants to consume healthy foods daily in the academic environment, however, pointed out barriers such as an increasing pace of work and lack of time. Conclusion It was possible to identify barriers and desires related to food practices in the daily life of the university. This study demonstrated that changing the eating behavior of an academic community is a major challenge for wellness programs, even for an institution that produces and disseminates scientific knowledge.

scholarly journals Workplace interventions that aim to improve employee health and well-being in male-dominated industries: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. oemed-2020-107314
Author(s):  
Paige M Hulls ◽  
Rebecca C Richmond ◽  
Richard M Martin ◽  
Yanaina Chavez-Ugalde ◽  
Frank de Vocht
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Workplace Interventions ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
Health And Well Being

The published evidence on whether workplace health and well-being interventions are as effective in male-dominated industries compared with mixed-gender environments has not been synthesised. We performed a systematic review of workplace interventions aimed at improving employee health and well-being in male-dominated industries. We searched Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Database and Web of Science for articles describing workplace interventions in male-dominated industries that address employee health and well-being. The primary outcome was to determine the effectiveness of the intervention and the process evaluation (intervention delivery and adherence). To assess the quality of evidence, Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool was used. Due to the heterogeneity of reported outcomes, meta-analysis was performed for only some outcomes and a narrative synthesis with albatross plots was presented. After full-text screening, 35 studies met the eligibility criteria. Thirty-two studies delivered the intervention face-to-face, while two were delivered via internet and one using postal mail. Intervention adherence ranged from 50% to 97%, dependent on mode of delivery and industry. 17 studies were considered low risk of bias. Albatross plots indicated some evidence of positive associations, particularly for interventions focusing on musculoskeletal disorders. There was little evidence of intervention effect on body mass index and systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Limited to moderate evidence of beneficial effects was found for workplace health and well-being interventions conducted within male-dominated industries. Such interventions in the workplace can be effective, despite a different culture in male-dominated compared with mixed industries, but are dependent on delivery, industry and outcome. CRD42019161283.

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