Factors associated with participation in a corporate wellness program : the case of international hospitality company

Abstract

Corporate wellness programs (CWPs)are usually offered by employers to encourage their employees to live a healthy lifestyle by implementing significant changes in their daily routines to reduce their health costs and increase productivity. The study identifies factors associated with employees' participation in CWPs. This study used a quantitative approach by designing a questionnaire based on the relevant literature to collect data from the target respondents. The population of this study consists of 900 employees working at an international hospitality company called XYZ Company operating in Bahrain. The researchers retrieved 307 completed questionnaires out of the 900 distributed, representing a 34% response rate. The respondents represent first-line employees, supervisors, and managerial levels. About 45% of them would like to engage in physical activity, especially at the corporate fitness center, and preferred a wellness program that would allow them to get personalized exercise or diet counseling in one-to-one sessions. Furthermore, the results showed that culture was the only engagement factor associated with participation in the CWPs. Individual factors, social environment factors, physical environment factors, and organizational policy factors were not associated with participation in the CWP. Companies should use comprehensive CWPs that include physical activities, nutrition, recovery, and psychological aspects.