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 Do workplace health-promotion interventions targeting employees with poor health reduce sick-leave probability and disability rates?

2020 ◽  
pp. 140349482094654
Author(s):  
Roy A. Nielsen ◽  
Tove I. Midtsundstad
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Sick Leave ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Sickness Absence ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Disability Pension ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Health Promotion Interventions

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether introducing workplace health-promotion interventions targeting employees with health problems or reduced work ability affected overall sick leave and disability risk. Methods: The study population comprised data from an establishment survey from 2010 identifying who had introduced workplace health promotion (the intervention) linked to register data on all employees and their sickness absence and disability pension uptake from 2000 through 2010. Results: Interventions had moderate effects due to varying efficacy in different parts of the labour market. Intervention success was more likely among white-collar workers (e.g. in public administration) compared to blue-collar workers (e.g. in manufacturing), probably due to variations in both organisational and technological constraints. Effects were small among men and moderate among older workers, particularly among women. Overall, disability risk reduction was accompanied by an increase in sickness absence. Sometimes, sickness absence increased in groups with no change in disability risk, suggesting that presenteeism in one group may increase absenteeism in other groups. Conclusions: Introducing workplace health-promotion interventions may prolong work careers in some labour-market segments. Financial incentives for Norwegian establishments to continue offering workplace health-promotion interventions may be improved, given the current financial model for disability pension and sickness benefits.

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.

Management Support of Workplace Health Promotion: Field Test of the Leading by Example Tool

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. Della ◽  
David M. DeJoy ◽  
Shannon Gwin Mitchell ◽  
Ron Z. Goetzel ◽  
Enid Chung Roemer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Workplace Health

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.

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.

scholarly journals Adoption and Implementation Barriers for Worksite Health Programs in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12030
Author(s):  
Marc Weinstein ◽  
Kalila Cheddie
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
Qualified Personnel ◽  
Worksite Health

Worksite health promotion programs have been identified as having the potential to mitigate chronic health risks. In the most recent 2017 U.S. CDC survey of workplace health promotion, respondents identified several perceived barriers related to program adoption and implementation. The analysis indicates that challenges negatively associated with having worksite program were lack of senior management support (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32–0.78), lack of qualified vendors (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.4–0.79), lack of qualified personnel (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35–0.73), and cost (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39–0.88). Challenges associated with having a program were lack of employee interest (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.44–3.03), lack of space (OR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.26–2.48), and demonstrating program results (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.44–3.03). These findings can provide insights to policy makers, insurers, and employers seeking to implement workplace-based health promotion initiatives.

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.

scholarly journals Workplace Health in Kentucky: A Statewide Comparison

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5473
Author(s):  
Gretchen Macy ◽  
Jacqueline Basham ◽  
Cecilia Watkins ◽  
Vijay Golla
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Workplace Health Promotion ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Workplace Health ◽  
Positive Direction ◽  
Research Software ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Statewide Assessment

The objectives of this study were to assess the state of Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health programs, to ensure the ability to comprehend any possible trends over the past six years in the state’s progress in offering workplace health promotion and health protection programs, to compare the results of this survey with the 2013 Kentucky state-wide assessment, and to identify gaps in Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health based on Total Worker Health® (TWH) concepts. Using Qualtrics research software, the Workplace Health in America assessment was sent to companies located in Kentucky and having 10 or more employees. Participants were identified using Dun and Bradstreet’s Hoover’s database. The results showed that, as with the 2013 survey, larger workplaces significantly were more likely to offer workplace health promotion programs than smaller companies (X2 = 24.30; p < 0.001). However, more companies (78%) reported offering programs compared to the 2013 assessment (49%). Given the results of the current study as compared to the statewide assessment conducted in 2013, Kentucky’s WHP is moving in a positive direction; yet, there is still much to be done. There remains a strong need to provide cost-effective and accessible resources for all elements of TWH to small workplaces.

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.

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