Health-promoting work in the workplace : A quantitative review of employees' knowledge and use of wellness benefits as well as perceived health, activity rate and work motivation

The current publication is a paper at university level about health- promoting work and healthcare in the workplace. In cooperation with BillerudKorsnäs at Gruvön, the present paper aims partly to study employees´knowledge of and use of healthcare benefits, and to investigate any differences between healthcare benefits, gender, working time, employment and age. Through a quantitative survey, the purpose are partly also to investigate possible association between healthcare contribution, perceived health, level of physical activity and work motivation. The study are based on four theoretical starting points such as the salutogenic perspective, Bronfenbrenner´s ecological model, self- determination theory and WHO´s model (2010). Previous research describes that physical activity is an important component for both body and soul. Health- promoting achievements aimed to increasing physical activity, can be important both for the society and public health (Faskunger, 2007: YFA, 2016). Towards, health is created within that enviroment in which people live, the workplace is an important place for health promotion work (Glantz, Rimer & Viswanath, 2008: Winroth, 2018). Health- promoting achievements in the workplace might be able to promote work performance and the efficiency of operations (WHO, 2010: Winroth, 2018). By offer benefits and inspire to healthy lifestyles, there is good conditions for employees to make healthy choices. Winroth (2018) means that healthcare can be a good way to work with organizational health. Moreover, Abraham and Graham- Rowe (2009) account for that health promotion in the workplace might be a way to overcome the fact that lack of time is a common factor of not participating in physical activity. However, health work in the workplace might involve certain challenges, for instance that only a few use the wellness contribution (Svenska dagbladet, 2017). Thus, it is interesting to study health promotion work in the workplace and employees´own perceptions. According to the result most of the employees use the healthcare contribution, and above half of the employees do not participate in physical activities or apply the gym that the workplace offers. Reasons of participating in physical activities, partly are because of enjoy and for maintaining health. Accordning to the result, lack of time, exercising in other ways and the current pandemic are determining factors in not participating in physical activities. Otherwise, the employees also shared their own suggestion, such as web- based activities and information about local healthcare offers