IDEAS Research Results
The Healthy Workplace Participatory Program was recently field-tested at four different private and public institutions.
We tested the following program materials:
- Selecting a Steering Committee
- Assessing Workforce Health
- Selecting a Design Team
- Intervention planning with the IDEAS Intervention Scorecard tool
The results indicated that this program produces quality, low-cost interventions, and is perceived as a positive innovation by both management and the front-line participants.
Findings:
The Design Team produced creative, low-cost solutions at 3 of the 4 institutions.
- To reduce unnecessary or redundant work for front-line workers, the Design Team created educational materials for the company’s clients.
- To reduce the strain of continuous sitting at a desk, the Design Team organized a company-wide training on ergonomics, and invited an expert to demonstrate adjustments to employee workstations
- To increase health awareness, the Design Team organized a company-wide health fair.
Front-line workers had a positive experience.
- Front-line employees reported feelings of accomplishment, empowerment and pride as a result of their work in the Design Team.
- The greater workforce benefited from the exposure to new health concepts (i.e., ergonomics, health education).
Management experienced desirable program effects.
- Managers reported high-quality, low-cost solutions that exceeded their expectations.
- Managers noted professional growth in those front-line workers that participated in the Design Team.
- Managers wanted to continue the program beyond the study’s end date, as long as the Design Team had a health agenda to work on.