Perceived workplace health support is associated with employee productivity

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between perceived workplace health support and employee productivity.

DESIGN

A quantitative cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Washington State agencies.

SUBJECTS

A total of 3528 employees from six state agencies were included in this analysis.

MEASURES

Perceived workplace health support was assessed by two questions that queried respondents on how often they felt supported by the workplace for healthy living and physical activity. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire was used to measure health-related absenteeism and presenteeism in the past 7 days.

ANALYSIS

Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate the mean differences in productivity by levels of perceived health support.

RESULTS

Most participants were between 45 and 64 years of age and were predominantly non-Hispanic white. Presenteeism varied significantly by the level of perceived workplace health support, with those who felt least supported having higher presenteeism than those who felt most supported. The difference in presenteeism by perceived workplace support remained significant in models adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics (mean difference: 7.1% for support for healthy living, 95% confidence interval: 3.7%, 10.4%; 4.3% for support for physical activity, 95% confidence interval: 1.7%, 6.8%). Absenteeism was not associated with perceived workplace health support.

CONCLUSION

Higher perceived workplace health support is independently associated with higher work productivity. Employers may see productivity benefit from wellness programs through improved perceptions of workplace health support.

Municipal Officials' Participation in Built Environment Policy Development in the United States

PURPOSE

This study examined municipal officials' participation in built environment policy initiatives focused on land use design, transportation, and parks and recreation.

DESIGN

Web-based cross-sectional survey.

SETTING

Eighty-three municipalities with 50,000 or more residents in eight states.

SUBJECTS

Four hundred fifty-three elected and appointed municipal officials.

MEASURES

Outcomes included self-reported participation in land use design, transportation, and parks and recreation policy to increase physical activity. Independent variables included respondent position; perceptions of importance, barriers, and beliefs regarding physical activity and community design and layout; and physical activity partnership participation.

ANALYSIS

Multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Compared to other positions, public health officials had lower participation in land use design (78.3% vs. 29.0%), transportation (78.1% vs. 42.1%), and parks and recreation (67.1% vs. 26.3%) policy. Perceived limited staff was negatively associated with participation in each policy initiative. Perceptions of the extent to which physical activity was considered in community design and physical activity partnership participation were positively associated with participation in each. Perceived lack of collaboration was associated with less land use design and transportation policy participation, and awareness that community design affects physical activity was associated with more participation. Perceived lack of political will was associated with less parks and recreation policy participation.

CONCLUSION

Public health officials are underrepresented in built environment policy initiatives. Improving collaborations may improve municipal officials' policy participation.