This paper presents a brief summary of major findings regarding employee health and well-being based on the scientific literature, including current and emerging approaches to preventing illness and injury in organizations, promoting health and well-being in the workplace, and mitigating health problems through organizational programs. I also offer suggestions for new approaches to research on employee health and well-being in order to significantly improve our chances of turning the corner on the growing health crisis. But first, let me describe the size of the problem we are facing.
Most of what is taught in business schools and executive development programs, though certainly relevant, does not contribute significantly to the creation of workplaces that enable human beings to flourish and engage meaningfully in the success of their organizations.
With the massive and endlessly growing provision of advice and guidance and education on how to run successful and/or effective organizations, the question remains: “Why haven’t we become better at it”? With so many companies struggling to survive, let alone thrive, in the always on, 24/7, inter-connected world we...
America is in the midst of a health crisis. Physical and mental health issues ranging from obesity levels, lack of physical activity, stress, anxiety and depression are growing at an alarming rate but individuals have difficulty doing it alone, and “quick fix” diets, exercise regimens, job and organization redesign have not improved Americans’ health and well-being appreciably. A review of the literature on the efficacy of different approaches to improving working Americans’ health and well-being, whether it is through preventive programs, health promotion programs, or ill-health...
The Interdisciplinary Center for Healthy Workplaces (ICHW) at UC Berkeley and Transamerica Center for Health Studies® (TCHS) are releasing the new, evidence-based analysis, Increasing Participation Rates in Wellness Programs for Small and Medium Organizations Technical Report.
This report analyzes how to increase employee participation in wellness programs, especially in small and medium organizations. Methods included literature reviews, focus groups with 29 organizations, analysis of survey data, and development of an employer guide. Key findings:...
The report examines how technology can interface with workplace design to improve worker health and wellbeing.
Main research objectives:
Investigate how technology can interface with workplace structure to create a healthier workforce Explore factors companies consider when adopting health-enabling technology
Key findings:
Technology can be integrated into the workplace to enhance work environments and contribute to positive worker outcomes. This includes wearables, mobile apps, sensors, and other devices. Technologies can provide...
This study examined changes in work practices and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic using a mixed-methods approach with panel data collected twice from an insurance company in Norway.
Key findings:
Main reasons for working from home were to maintain social distance, avoid contagion, and protect loved ones. Flexibility and time savings were also motivators. Most employees reported having necessary technical equipment to work from home and wanted more opportunities for home office in the future. Work-family balance and workload were similar across age, gender, and worksites...
This study uses a horizon scan methodology to examine how changes in the future of work could impact workers experiencing vulnerability. The researchers synthesized diverse sources of evidence to identify nine key trend categories:
Digital transformation of the economy AI/ML-enhanced automation AI-enabled human resource management systems Skill requirements for the future of work Globalization 4.0 Climate change and the green economy Gen Z workers and the work environment Populism and the future of work External shocks accelerating changes (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic)
This editorial, written in April 2020, reflects on early lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and proposes policy considerations for future pandemics. The authors, Yelin, Katz, and Banks, highlight several key points:
The importance of early action in implementing shelter-in-place orders to slow disease spread. The need to balance public health concerns with economic impacts when deciding to lift restrictions. The shortcomings of "just-in-time" inventory practices in healthcare, advocating instead for planned redundancy in supplies and infrastructure. The role of the rheumatology...
Recently, performance appraisal researchers have adopted a cognitive approach to analyzing judgment processes in performance appraisal. While this approach allows researchers to tap a wealth of knowledge applicable to the appraisal context, this line of research is likely to widen the already existing gap between research and practice. We argue that coordination of the talents of researchers and practitioners is essential for narrowing the gap. Specifically, we suggest researchers focus their research on the best methods of ensuring use of relevant and valid data in appraisal, given...
Neuroscience studies indicate that when workplace design recognizes, reflects, and respects both users’ national and organizational cultures wellbeing and performance soar (see, for example, Veitch, 2012), but national and organizational culture are generally separately considered. The reported project integrates neuroscience research related to organizational culture, national culture, and workplace design to develop a straightforward framework that can be used in practice to create work environments that support employees as they work to their full potential within the context of their...
