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.

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.

Resistance Training: (Re)shaping Extreme Forms of Workplace Health Promotion

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric P. James ◽  
Heather M. Zoller
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Employee Perceptions ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Corporate Wellness ◽  
Employee Resistance ◽  
Health Initiatives ◽  
Wellness Initiatives ◽  
Wellness Initiative

As the number of workplace health initiatives grows, so does the variety of programming. This study examines a fitness apparel company’s attempts to promote a fitness culture through a particular brand of “extreme” fitness known as CrossFit. CrossFit is an intense fitness regimen that has generated controversy with a cult-like reputation. We looked at the evangelical promotion of CrossFit as a new corporate wellness initiative. Based on interviews and participant observations, we used a critical-interpretive lens to understand employee reactions to the extreme wellness initiative. The evangelical introduction of this program by management led to high rates of participation, influencing employee perceptions of health, fitness, and identity. Yet, we also found that employee resistance emerged, which helped to mark the limits of this managerial intervention in workplace fitness. Ultimately, the study advocates for more co-construction of workplace wellness initiatives.

scholarly journals Conceptualizing National Family Policies: A Capabilities Approach

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-167
Author(s):  
Jana Javornik ◽  
Mara A. Yerkes
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Family Policy ◽  
Policy Research ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Family Policies ◽  
Policy Area ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
National Family ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Work Family

AbstractComparative family policy research has advanced significantly in recent years. The growing availability of more and better data have improved our understanding of cross-national similarities and differences in family policies, as well as how they shape the lives of different families. Despite these advancements, comparative family policy research continues to face difficulties. The multifaceted nature of family policies makes cross-country comparisons complex. Conceptualizing our theoretical understanding of which policy aspects matter and why as well as operationalizing them into measurable indicators, often remains problematic for comparative analyses. Using examples of British and Swedish policies on childcare, a policy area particularly prone to conceptual challenges, we discuss the difficulties involved in conceptualizing family policies in comparative research. We argue that taking a capabilities approach provides a useful way forward in the field and show how such a conceptual framework allows us to more meaningfully analyze both work-family policies and their outcomes.

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.

scholarly journals Healthy and productive workers: using intervention mapping to design a workplace health promotion and wellness program to improve presenteeism

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Ammendolia ◽  
Pierre Côté ◽  
Carol Cancelliere ◽  
J. David Cassidy ◽  
Jan Hartvigsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Intervention Mapping ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Wellness Program

scholarly journals Be well: A systems-based wellness intervention using mindfulness in the workplace – A case study

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate M Levett ◽  
Sharyn Coughlan ◽  
Sharon Longridge ◽  
Violet Roumeliotis ◽  
Jon Adams
Keyword(s):  
Sick Leave ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Healthy Work ◽  
Wellness Intervention ◽  
Healthy Work Environments

AbstractIntroduction: Healthy work environments are essential in determining improved well-being of Australians. Job stress has been identified as a significant factor in psychological distress. This study evaluated the effect of introducing a systems-based workplace wellness programme using mindfulness in the workplace. Methods: The programme ‘Be Well’ was introduced as part of a systems-based approach to workplace health promotion, and evaluated using sick leave as a proxy for workplace stress, and the stress satisfaction offset score to determine the degree of change in stress and satisfaction. Results: There was significant reduction in sick leave (2014 vs. 2012) (p<.001), and significant improvement in stress satisfaction offset score (p<.05). Logistic regression analysis identified the programme components most predictive of reduced stress and higher job satisfaction. Conclusion: The impacts of a systems-based mindfulness workplace wellness intervention, show significant improvements in workers’ sick leave and changes to stress and satisfaction scores. This study has implications for sector-wide policy change in the workplace.

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

Work ◽  
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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