The Role of Managers in Employee Wellness Programs: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Management Studies

Background:

• Employee wellness programs are crucial for workforce health.
• Managerial support significantly influences program participation and success.
• Understanding manager perspectives is key to optimizing wellness initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify barriers and facilitators for managers supporting employee participation in the Washington State Wellness program.
• To explore how managerial roles impact the effectiveness of workplace wellness initiatives.
• To inform strategies for enhancing manager involvement in employee well-being.

Main Methods:

• Exploratory sequential mixed-methods design.
• Qualitative interviews with 23 managers followed by a survey of 607 managers across four state agencies.
• Analysis using qualitative coding and descriptive statistics, guided by the Total Worker Health framework.

Main Results:

• Managers generally support wellness programs but encounter challenges including workload, inflexible scheduling, and limited self-efficacy in discussing wellness.
• Approximately half of managers receive upward support, and most have not received specific training on the wellness program.
• Barriers to employee participation are often linked to managerial capacity and program integration into daily work.

Conclusions:

• Training, clear communication, formal expectations, and leadership encouragement are vital for strengthening managers' support of employee wellness.
• Addressing managerial barriers can improve the reach and impact of workplace wellness programs.
• Optimizing the manager's role is essential for fostering a culture of health and well-being within organizations.