Determining the Level of Engagement in The Ohio State University Wellness Innovator Program
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Workplace wellness programs (WWPs) have the capability to improve and maintain personal health and well-being among employees while reducing health care costs and increasing productivity. Wellness champions have been proposed as a high-reach strategy to facilitate these outcomes through increasing participation in WWPs, promoting a worksite culture of wellness, and positively impacting healthy lifestyle behaviors among employees. Studies show that with proper training, support, and ongoing guidance, peer support programs like worksite wellness champion teams can promote employee well-being. However, little evidence exists regarding factors that can impact the effectiveness of a wellness champion team. This study examines the relationship between employee engagement in a worksite wellness champion program and their direct manager's support of the wellness champion role. Methods: A 9-item cross-sectional survey was developed and administered to wellness champions at a large academic institution. Results: A total of 227 (40 percent) wellness champions responded to the survey. Disengaged wellness champions were more likely to report a low level of manager support for their role than champions moderately, very, or extremely engaged in communicating wellness initiatives (P=.0055), motivating and encouraging colleagues (P<.0001), and planning wellness activities (P=.0458). Conclusion: Findings suggest that the support wellness champions receive from direct managers is a key determinant of their level of engagement in efforts to improve their colleagues’ health and well-being. As employers look to impact the health and productivity of their employees, and generate cost-savings, organizational leadership and manager support of wellness champion teams has the potential to increase employee engagement in WWPs.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7134662596