Potential Benefits and Effects of Worksite Health Promotion

Research regarding workplace health promotion (WHP) frequently neglects the employees' perspective. Due to that, assumptions regarding the effects of WHP for employees are typically based on experts' opinions but not statements from the workforce. The present paper therefore exploratively investigates the effects of WHP as perceived by the staff. The results of problem-centred interviews with 19 employees in three organizations, and the four people there responsible for WHP show that potential effects of WHP from the employees' perspective can be grouped in five areas: (1) prevention is facilitated, (2) cognitive and affective changes are possible, (3) physical effects are observed, (4) emotional effects can arise, and (5) WHP can lead to social effects. As WHP's potential positive effects can be hindered in case the employees' perspective is not sufficiently taken into account, the individuals' expectations and aims should become more central in WHP design and research.