COVID-19 Implications on Worksite Wellness Programming.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Health Promotion

Background:

• Chronic diseases constitute a significant portion of US mortality and healthcare expenditure.
• Worksite wellness programs are crucial for chronic disease prevention due to employees' time spent at work.
• The COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread shifts to remote work, necessitating adaptation of workplace strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on worksite wellness programs.
• To identify challenges and successes encountered by these programs during the pandemic.
• To gather insights for sustaining wellness programs in non-traditional work environments.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data was collected through semistructured interviews.
• Interviews were conducted and recorded via Zoom conferencing.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify key findings from the interview data.

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: remote relationship building, creative program delivery, enhanced physical activity and work-life balance, and increased health/mental health resource awareness.
• Both challenges and successes were reported across these themes.
• The overall experience of worksite wellness programs during the pandemic was predominantly positive.

Conclusions:

• Worksite wellness programs adapted successfully to remote work environments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The study provides valuable lessons for designing and maintaining effective wellness programs outside traditional office settings.
• Organizations continuing remote or hybrid work models can leverage these findings to support employee well-being.