Workplace health interventions in small enterprises: A Swedish longitudinal study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Vinberg, Stig

Affiliations: National Institute for Working Life, SE-831 40 Östersund, Sweden. Tel.: +46 63 55 13 07; Fax: +46 63 55 13 20; E-mail: stig.vinberg@niwl.se

Abstract: This article has a two-fold approach. First, it investigates relationships between work organizational factors, and health and performance outcomes. Second, it compares two change strategy approaches in workplace health interventions by studying changes of these factors and outcomes. The sample consisted of ten Swedish small enterprises including 102 individuals, who answered a before and after questionnaire about organizational factors and outcomes. The leaders were interviewed and answered a questionnaire about performed workplace health interventions. Statistical methods used were reliability tests, correlation analyses and t-tests. Results indicate rather strong links between indicators of respectful leadership, creative work and team spirit, and the outcome indicators self-assessed health and judged workplace adaptability in association with customer satisfaction. The results concerning changes of determinants and outcomes (after workplace health interventions) showed significant differences between enterprises using a broad change strategy and those using an expert/problem-based strategy with the former having more favourable results. The leader interview results also point at obstacles concerning workplace change processes as lack of resources, insufficient competence and influence of external factors. The study results suggest that work organizational factors and integrated models for workplace health intervention are of importance for health and performance outcomes in small enterprises.

Keywords: Small enterprises, health, performance, workplace health interventions, change strategy

Journal: Work, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 473-482, 2008