DOI: 10.5176/2251-2349_HRM&PD47
Authors: Joanna Edwards, Darryl Forsyth, Margot Edwards
Abstract:
The benefits of workplace health promotion programs for organizations are well documented. However, the challenge for managers is encouraging employees to take part. The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the variables predicting employee participation in multiple health promotion activities. The primary motivation for this study was to assist managers in making more informed decisions in ways of tailoring health promotion programs to increase employee participation. This study centered on identifying and assessing the predictors of employee participation in nine health promotion activities commonly offered in New Zealand organizations. 883 New Zealand based employees from 5 organizations completed an online questionnaire. This study determined that the likelihood of an employee participating is best predicted by their age, gender, perceived stress, job satisfaction, supervisor support, organizational health climate, and degree of perceived job flexibility. Based on these findings, this study recommends that managers implement activities that are conveniently scheduled, complement the age range and dominant gender of their workforce, and are supported by the dissemination of comprehensive and relevant information. Managers would also benefit from improving the overall perceptions of the organizational climate and improving their support of employees in order to maximize employee participation rates.
Keywords: workplace health promotion, participation in workplace health promotion
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