Do health programmes within the New Zealand food industry influence the work environment for employees? 2020

Rajshri Roy, and Teri Winona Styles, and Andrea Braakhuis
Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Bldg: 504, Room: 238, Grafton, Auckland 1011, New Zealand.

Workplace wellness programmes have increased over the past years, but as yet has not been investigated in food and grocery organizations in New Zealand (NZ). The study aim was to explore the commitment of NZ Food and Grocery Council (FGC) companies in altering the workplace environment for employee health and the efficacy of the current wellness policies. Using a mixed-methods approach, FGC companies (n = 22) completed a workplace environment audit (WEA) survey. Three focus groups were held, consisting of employees (n = 20) from four of the FGC companies that completed the WEA survey. Two sets of data were then compared via methodological triangulation. The mean WEA score was 46% (p = 0.00), indicating an 'average' commitment by the FGC to health-promotion in their own workplaces. Significantly more initiatives related to improving nutrition were offered (p = 0.00) and larger food companies scored higher than smaller companies (p = 0.063). During the focus groups, employees revealed they felt workplace wellness programmes increased productivity, improved their physical health, allowed work-life balance, promoted social interaction and provided health-related education. Barriers to participating in wellness activities were identified as lack of time, working in a blue-collar position and working externally to the main office. The results of this study have large implications for companies and employers in NZ for future planning, implementation and monitoring of health initiatives in the workplace.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009520 New Zealand A group of islands in the southwest Pacific. Its capital is Wellington. It was discovered by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642 and circumnavigated by Cook in 1769. Colonized in 1840 by the New Zealand Company, it became a British crown colony in 1840 until 1907 when colonial status was terminated. New Zealand is a partly anglicized form of the original Dutch name Nieuw Zeeland, new sea land, possibly with reference to the Dutch province of Zeeland. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p842 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p378)
D006293 Health Promotion Encouraging consumer behaviors most likely to optimize health potentials (physical and psychosocial) through health information, preventive programs, and access to medical care. Health Campaigns,Promotion of Health,Wellness Programs,Promotional Items,Campaign, Health,Campaigns, Health,Health Campaign,Health Promotions,Item, Promotional,Items, Promotional,Program, Wellness,Programs, Wellness,Promotion, Health,Promotional Item,Promotions, Health,Wellness Program
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016272 Occupational Health The promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health in the work environment. Employee Health,Industrial Health,Industrial Hygiene,Occupational Safety,Health, Industrial,Hygiene, Industrial,Safety, Occupational,Health, Employee,Health, Occupational
D017132 Workplace Place or physical location of work or employment. Job Site,Work Location,Work Place,Work-Site,Worksite,Job Sites,Location, Work,Work Locations,Work Places,Work Site,Work-Sites,Workplaces,Worksites
D019649 Food Industry The industry concerned with processing, preparing, preserving, distributing, and serving of foods and beverages. Food Industries,Industries, Food,Industry, Food

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