Project Background > Concepts

Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion

There are three dimensions of comprehensive workplace health promotion (CWHP):

• lifestyle practices (also called voluntary health practices)
• organizational culture (also called organizational change)
• occupational health and safety.

The terminology, as well as the importance that various organizations and workplaces place on each of the three dimensions, may vary between workplaces. For instance, in recent years, organizational culture is being recognized as an increasingly important piece of the workplace wellness puzzle. This understanding is reflected in many of the situational assessments presented in this resource.

Figure 3 : CWHP Triangle

Aspects of the Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Triangle

• Occupational health and safety – reducing work-related injury, illness, and disability by addressing environmental issues in the workplace, such as ergonomics, chemical hazards, and air quality.
• Lifestyle practices (voluntary health practices) – reducing the risk or incidence of worker illness by addressing individuals' lifestyle behaviours through awareness raising, education, supportive environments, and policy. The terms "voluntary health practice," "individual lifestyle practice," and "healthy lifestyles" are often used interchangeably for this factor.
• Organizational change (organizational culture) –improving job satisfaction and productivity by changing worker attitudes and perceptions, management practices, and the way work is organized. These factors have been shown to have a dramatic impact on employee health outcomes. These factors are also referred to as psychosocial factors or as part of the psychosocial work environment.

More details on CWHP can be found in THCU's Introduction to Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion Info-pack.