Efforts to improve workforce health and productivity by emphasizing a corporate “culture of health” may bolster participation in workplace health and wellbeing programs. However, a culture of health is difficult to assess.
IBI conducted a review of 17 peer-reviewed research studies focused on the topic of organizational culture and program participation.
- The most commonly measured cultural elements were social support and program promotion or communication.
- Most programs focused on worksite health promotion or wellness programs. Health assessments were the second most commonly included programs, followed by coaching/counseling services, physical activity programs, and employee assistance programs.
- Three out of four findings showed a positive association between favorable cultures and program participation.
Experts at leading healthcare, benefits, and absence management firms provided guidance on promoting workforce health as a shared cultural value. Their advice includes:
- Aligning health with a company’s existing core values
- Using business cases to obtain leadership buy-in
- Cultivating models of healthy values
- Adopting policies and workspaces that make the right choice the easy choice for employees
- Situating health promotion and cultural initiatives within a larger strategy of engaging with the communities from which a company hires