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Total Worker Health: A Small Business Leader Perspective

Author

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  • Janalee Thompson

    (Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Natalie V. Schwatka

    (Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Liliana Tenney

    (Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

  • Lee S. Newman

    (Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
    Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E. 17th Pl., 3rd Floor, Mail Stop B119 HSC, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
    Division of Pulmonary Science and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 E 17th Pl., Aurora, CO 80045, USA)

Abstract

Total Worker Health ® (TWH) frameworks call for attention to organizational leadership in the implementation and effectiveness of TWH approaches. It is especially important to study this within in the small business environment where employees face significant health, safety, and well-being concerns and employers face barriers to addressing these concerns. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how small business leaders perceive employee health, safety, and well-being in the context of their own actions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 small business senior leaders and used a qualitative coding approach to analyze the transcripts to determine the frequency with which leaders discussed each code. When we asked leaders about their leadership practices for health, safety, and well-being, leaders reflected upon their business (65%), themselves (28%), and their employees (7%). Leaders rarely discussed the ways in which they integrate health, safety, and well-being. The interviews demonstrate that small business leaders care about the health of their employees, but because of the perceived value to their business, not to employees or themselves. Thus, they may lack the knowledge and skills to be successful TWH leaders. The present study supports a need for continued small business TWH leadership research.

Suggested Citation

  • Janalee Thompson & Natalie V. Schwatka & Liliana Tenney & Lee S. Newman, 2018. "Total Worker Health: A Small Business Leader Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:11:p:2416-:d:179487
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alvesson, Mats, 1989. "The culture perspective on organizations: Instrumental values and basic features of culture," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 123-136.
    2. Dunkl Anita & Jiménez Paul & Šarotar Žižek Simona & Milfelner Borut & Kallus Wolfgang K., 2015. "Similarities and Differences of Health-promoting Leadership and Transformational Leadership," Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy, Sciendo, vol. 61(4), pages 3-13, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Natalie V. Schwatka & Miranda Dally & Liliana Tenney & Erin Shore & Carol E. Brown & Lee S. Newman, 2020. "Total Worker Health Leadership and Business Strategies Are Related to Safety and Health Climates in Small Business," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. Aileen Hoge & Anna T. Ehmann & Monika A. Rieger & Achim Siegel, 2019. "Caring for Workers’ Health: Do German Employers Follow a Comprehensive Approach Similar to the Total Worker Health Concept? Results of a Survey in an Economically Powerful Region in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Achim Siegel & Aileen C. Hoge & Anna T. Ehmann & Peter Martus & Monika A. Rieger, 2021. "Attitudes of Company Executives toward a Comprehensive Workplace Health Management—Results of an Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Nufail Khan & Alison Kennedy & Jacqueline Cotton & Susan Brumby, 2019. "A Pest to Mental Health? Exploring the Link between Exposure to Agrichemicals in Farmers and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.

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