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Promoting Health and Well-being in the Workplace

Promoting Health and Well-being in the Workplace

Margaret Hodgins | Paul Fleming | John Griffiths

(2016)

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Book Details

Abstract

The workplace is where almost two thirds of adults spend almost two thirds of their waking time. Though traditional, statutorily-driven approaches to risk management have been demonstrably effective in reducing the number of injuries and sickness in recent years, psychological and physical health issues are still rife in the modern-day workforce. Work-related sickness and injury absence, and the economic cost implications of such, are having a detrimental effect not just on employees and employers, but on the wider community.
Written by a team of experts from across academia and practice settings, this engaging new book argues that employer organizations must work collaboratively with employees in order to create working environments that promote health for all. With a sharp focus on applying theory to practice, the book uses real-life examples from areas across the globe to encourage readers to think contextually. Key topics covered include:
• Work-life balance, including issues of workload and the 'long hours culture'
• The impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
• The nature, scale and causes of work-related stress
• The significance of corporate social responsibility in employee wellness
Aligned with global frameworks, this comprehensive text provides both students and qualified professionals with a solid foundation for practice, and a rich source of material for discussion.
Margaret Hodgins is Head of School of Health Sciences and a lecturer in Health Promotion at the National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway.
Paul Fleming is Head of Professional Practice in Health Sciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK, where he is also Professor of Health Promotion and Population Health.
John Griffiths has 29 years' experience in the development and implementation of health promotion programmes, and has worked for the Welsh Heart Programme (Heartbeat Wales), Health Promotion Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The authors have created an important resource for researchers, students and operators in workplace health promotion. This well-written volume provides coverage of a number of important issues and techniques not commonly treated in a didactic manner, and specifically not covered in most textbooks. It is a rare and valuable combination of history, principles and practice. – Professor Giuseppe Masanotti, University of Perugia, Italy


The workplace is where almost two thirds of adults spend almost two thirds of their waking time. Though traditional, statutorily-driven approaches to risk management have been demonstrably effective in reducing the number of injuries and sickness in recent years, psychological and physical health issues are still rife in the modern-day workforce. Work-related sickness and injury absence, and the economic cost implications of such, are having a detrimental effect not just on employees and employers, but on the wider community.


Written by a team of experts from across academia and practice settings, this engaging new book argues that employer organizations must work collaboratively with employees in order to create working environments that promote health for all. With a sharp focus on applying theory to practice, the book uses real-life examples from areas across the globe to encourage readers to think contextually. Key topics covered include:


• Work-life balance, including issues of workload and the 'long hours culture'
• The impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders
• The nature, scale and causes of work-related stress
• The significance of corporate social responsibility in employee wellness


Aligned with global frameworks, this comprehensive text provides both students and qualified professionals with a solid foundation for practice, and a rich source of material for discussion.


Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover Cover
Contents v
List of Figures, tables and Boxes ix
Foreword xi
Notes on the AUT HORS xv
Acknowledgements xvii
Part I 1
1 Work and Health 2
Introduction 2
The World of Work 3
Health, the Workplace and the Workforce 8
Influences of the Workplace on the Health of Workers 10
Physical Health and the Workplace 12
Mental Health and the Workplace 13
Personal Health Practices 14
Conclusion 15
References 16
2 Workplace Health Promotion 19
Introduction 19
Defining ‘Workplace Health Promotion’ 20
Evolution of Workplace Health Promotion: International Directives 24
Models and Frameworks for Workplace Health Promotion 28
Challenges and Opportunities for Health Promotion in the Workplace 32
References 36
3 Stakeholder Engagement 40
Introduction 40
What is a Stakeholder? 41
Stakeholders in Workplace Health Promotion – Who, Why and What? 42
The Process of Stakeholder Engagement 48
The Benefits of Stakeholder Engagement 49
The Nature of Stakeholder Engagement 51
Achieving Multi-Stakeholder Engagement 53
References 55
Part II 57
4 The Workplace and Personal Health Choices 58
Introduction 58
The Workplace Health Context: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity 59
The Workplace Health Context: Alcohol 64
Developing an Organizational Response 65
The Role of the Occupational Health Service 74
Conclusion 75
References 76
5 Musculoskeletal Disorders 79
Introduction 79
Musculoskeletal Disorders 80
How Prevalent are Musculoskeletal Disorders? 81
Outcomes of Musculoskeletal Disorders 83
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders 83
Physical Risk Factors 84
Work Organization Factors 88
Individual Factors 89
Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Promotion of Musculoskeletal Health 90
Conclusion 94
References 95
6 Work-Related Stress 99
Introduction 99
The Nature of Work-Related Stress and Its Causes 100
The Scale of the Problem 102
How Prevalent is Work–Related Stress? 104
Creating a Mentally Healthy Workplace 106
Conclusion 117
References 118
7 Workplace Ill Treatment 121
Introduction 121
Workplace Ill Treatment 122
The Problem Formerly Known As … 123
Harassment, Incivility and Bullying 127
How Prevalent is Workplace Ill Treatment? 129
Workplace Ill Treatment and Ill Health 131
Poor Organizational Response 132
Causes of Workplace Ill Treatment 133
The Evidence Base for Preventing and Managing Bullying and Incivility 137
Conclusion 140
References 140
8 Work–Life Balance: The Harmonization of Personal and Working Life 148
Introduction 148
Societal Context 150
Navigating the Nomenclature (or ‘What’s in a Name?’) 152
Work–Life Conflict: Prevalence and Consequences 154
Work–Life Balance and Employee Health and Well-Being 156
Work–Life Balance: Policy and Practice 157
Availability and Uptake 159
Organizational Culture: The ‘Mind the Gap’ Problem 161
Five Elements of Work–Life Culture 162
Managerial Support 163
Perceptions of Career Consequences 164
Organizational Time Expectations 165
The Gendered Nature of Policy Utilization 166
Co-worker Support 167
Conclusion 169
References 170
9 Rehabilitation, Retention and Reintegration 176
Introduction 176
Sickness Absence: Terminology and Trends 176
Sickness Absence: Measurement and Recording Complexities 181
Vocational Rehabilitation, Retention and Reintegration 187
Conclusion 192
References 192
10 Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace 197
Introduction 197
Definitions of Diversity and Inclusion 198
Discrimination, the Antithesis of Diversity and Inclusion 199
Diversity, Inclusion and Age in the Workplace 202
Chronic Illness and the Workplace 205
Creating Supportive Environments 207
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace – Rhetoric to Reality 209
Conclusion 210
References 211
11 Corporate Social Responsibility 215
Introduction 215
Historical Perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility 215
Corporate Social Responsibility and Workplace Health 218
CSR Organizations 221
Guiding Principles 228
Conclusion 230
References 231
Index 233