TY - JOUR
T1 - Workplace health and wellbeing in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs): A mixed methods evaluation of provision and support uptake
AU - Lloyd, Nigel
AU - Smeeton, Nigel
AU - Freethy, Imogen
AU - Jones, Julia
AU - Wills, Wendy
AU - Dennington-Proce, Abi
AU - Jackson, John
AU - Brown, Katherine
N1 - © 2025 The Author(s). Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
PY - 2025/1/10
Y1 - 2025/1/10
N2 - Today’s challenging times highlight the need for workplaces to support employee wellbeing. Workplaces can offer a means to improve employee wellbeing and promote health initiatives. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are less likely than larger organizations to engage with workplace wellbeing initiatives or offer wellbeing provision. This study, conducted in an urban area in central England, explores SME engagement with local government workplace wellbeing provision, and barriers and facilitators to SME engagement, SME implementation of wellbeing provision, and employee uptake. A mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected via a survey of 103 SMEs and qualitative data from three focus groups with stakeholders involved in promoting SME engagement with wellbeing support (n = 9) and 16 in-depth interviews with SME representatives (n = 8) and employees (n = 8). Quantitative data were analyzed using the chi-squared, Fisher’s exact and Mann-Whitney U tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed using framework analysis. Findings highlighted several interrelated factors acting as barriers and facilitators to SME engagement with wellbeing initiatives, SME-provided wellbeing provision, and employee uptake. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, public health teams, and SME leaders on improving provision of and engagement with wellbeing programs. Trust, awareness, knowledge, and communication are highlighted as important prerequisites of optimal provision and engagement.
AB - Today’s challenging times highlight the need for workplaces to support employee wellbeing. Workplaces can offer a means to improve employee wellbeing and promote health initiatives. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are less likely than larger organizations to engage with workplace wellbeing initiatives or offer wellbeing provision. This study, conducted in an urban area in central England, explores SME engagement with local government workplace wellbeing provision, and barriers and facilitators to SME engagement, SME implementation of wellbeing provision, and employee uptake. A mixed-methods design was used. Quantitative data were collected via a survey of 103 SMEs and qualitative data from three focus groups with stakeholders involved in promoting SME engagement with wellbeing support (n = 9) and 16 in-depth interviews with SME representatives (n = 8) and employees (n = 8). Quantitative data were analyzed using the chi-squared, Fisher’s exact and Mann-Whitney U tests, and multivariable logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed using framework analysis. Findings highlighted several interrelated factors acting as barriers and facilitators to SME engagement with wellbeing initiatives, SME-provided wellbeing provision, and employee uptake. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers, public health teams, and SME leaders on improving provision of and engagement with wellbeing programs. Trust, awareness, knowledge, and communication are highlighted as important prerequisites of optimal provision and engagement.
KW - Workplace wellbeing
KW - SME
KW - Public Health
KW - small and medium sized enterprises
KW - barriers and facilitators
KW - health and wellbeing support
KW - workplace health promotion
KW - mixed method
KW - ; health and wellbeing
KW - health and wellbeing
KW - public health
KW - workplace wellbeing
KW - Health Promotion/methods
KW - Occupational Health
KW - Humans
KW - Focus Groups
KW - England
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
KW - Workplace/psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215960543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph22010090
DO - 10.3390/ijerph22010090
M3 - Article
C2 - 39857543
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 22
SP - 1
EP - 44
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)
IS - 1
M1 - 90
ER -