Working for wellness: defining, measuring, and enhancing employee well-being (original) (raw)

The focus of this thesis was on the utility of the workplace in promoting employee wellbeing. The thesis applied principles of positive psychology (PP) to the field of occupational health psychology (OHP). Paper 1 reviewed employee well-being with a focus on both general and work-related dimensions. Paper 2 developed a niche for positive employee well-being programs. It reviewed a number of strategies for improving employee health and well-being, including occupational health and safety legislation, corporate wellness programs, worksite health promotion and disease management programs, and stress prevention. Although important, such programs do not focus on promoting positive psychological well-being. The utility of supplementing these approaches with positive employee well-being programs was discussed from an applied ethics perspective. Paper 3 detailed the design and evaluation of the Working for Wellness Program using a mixed method design. Outcomes were tested using a randomized control trial. Participant feedback and field notes were analyzed to x Acknowledgments My first acknowledgement is to my friend, Jeff McLean who brought me to Monash and introduced me to positive psychology. Thanks for starting me on my journey and being a fantastic friend and boss. Immense thanks to my thesis supervisor, and fourtime co-author, Dianne Vella-Brodrick, who provided endless support and encouragement and kept me on the straight and narrow. Most importantly, thank you to Adrian, Mum, and Reg. Adrian, it has been so special to share this journey with you. Thank you for your unconditional love and infinite belief in me. Mum and Reg, thank you for putting up with me all these years and for your constant flexibility and understanding. Thanks also to Dad, Matt, and Emily Page, and my other family, Marcia and Russell Medhurst and co. I am particularly indebted to my sister for her enviable-tech‖ abilities. This thesis could not have happened without the vision and commitment of Medicare Australia, particularly Zoran Ilic, Tony Dulson and the program participants. Thank you for making this project real. Thanks also to Simon Moss, who provided statistical advice and support; Simon Albrecht and the rest of the MOP staff; and finally, to Bill Pappas, Dale Nissen and the WorkSafe crew for putting my thesis into practice.