Wellbeing at Work:Employer Motivation and Outcomes

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Well-being at WorkEmployer Motivation and
Outcomes

• S. Bushfield, P.B. Beaumont and S. Stewart
• Department of Management
• University of Glasgow
• National Employment and Health Innovations
  Network
• 14 March 2007

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Approach to Study

• Central Questions of Interest
• Motivation for introduction
• Elements of Policies and
• Outcomes.

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Initial Perspectives

• The Business Case
• Response to a problem
• Lower costs/ Improve performance
• Hard data gathered
• Benefits out way costs
• Must evaluate

• The Reputational Case
• Employer of choice
• Emphasis on recruitment and retention
• Innovators / early adopters - not influenced by
  their peer group instead they want to be seen as
  ahead of the pack

10 cases conducted, report on 3 here
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Common Elements of the Three Policies

• Comprehensive health policies, regularly updated
• Fitness and exercise opportunities
• Healthy eating options
• Confidential health/well-being assessments
• Supportive return to work programmes.
• Stress management services

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Key Differences in the Three Policies

• Company X (the reputation case) Starts at the
  recruitment stage.
• Company Y (the evaluation case) Analysis
  essential to ensure programme appreciated by
  employees.
• Company Z (the investment case) Problem solving
  plus appreciation.

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Outcomes (1)

• THE BUSINESS CASE Hardly in existence
• THE IMPORTANCE OF REPUTATION
• In general terms Our aim is to be an employer
  of choice and recruit the best people
• More specifically 79 of employees now believe
  that the company cares a great deal about the
  well-being of its employees
• Staff appreciation 89 of employees say they
  rate the programme as very good to excellent

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Outcomes (2)

• THE INVESTMENT CASE
• Profit/cost driven Sickness absence costs have
  been reduced from 15 m p/a in 1997 to 4.5m p/a
  in 2005
• Reputation with current and future employees
  Employees know they are valued thus they are
  more productive
• EMPLOYEES VALUE IT! DOES THIS MEAN THAT IT HELPS
  THEM?
• One of our senior managers, for example, has
  lost 3½ stone
• We have managed to convert 6 employees into
  complete non-smokers