Workplace Health Promotion: Managing Control and Support Expectations : A qualitative research study on how managers balance conflicting goals of supporting and controlling employees when implementing Workplace Health Promotion

This study investigated how managers balance the contrasting expectations of support and control when practicing Workplace Health Promotion (WHP). This was analyzed by conducting a qualitative interview study based on 11 managers from 5 different companies. This study adds to previous research by focusing on managers, whose personal views on health affect how much control is exercised and how much support is given to the employee. Data gathered from the interviews showed, in alignment with previous studies, that managers have to balance controlling aspects of WHP, including overstepping the employees’ work-life boundaries and urging employees to work towards companies’ health ideals. The study also identified internal and external factors that affected how managers balance control and support. The most prominent internal factors were the manager's views and morals, their attitude towards the company, and their level of agreement with health practices in place. The external balancing was foremost identified as how managers chose to implement WHP. The study could thus conclude that some managers were more willing to carry out controlling WHP that goes against their own morals, while others claimed they would speak up against top-management or go further in supporting than originally intended