Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Workplace Social Relations and Worksite Health Promotion Use

Abstract

Objective: To study whether workplace social relations explain use of worksite health promotion (WHP), by examining colleagues' and team managers' WHP encouragement of a healthy lifestyle, and colleague WHP uptake.

Methods: Multilevel data came from the second wave of the European Sustainable Workforce Survey (4345 employees of 402 team in 9 countries). Linear probability models were used to test use of two types of WHP: healthy menus and sport facilities.

Results: Employees are more likely to use healthy menus and sport facilities when more colleagues do so too and when colleagues encourage a healthy lifestyle. Surprisingly, encouragement by one's manager plays no role.

Conclusions: Social contact among colleagues can facilitate WHP use, and WHP initiatives should pay attention to the influential role of colleagues.