Healthy workplace and productivity

Abstract

The development of an organization depends upon the quantity and quality of work generated by its employees which is immensely influenced by the workplace environment and organizational factors. This paper examines how these factors positively influence workers ’health, well-being, and the relationship between healthy workplaces and productivity. Several studies suggests that to be effective in their jobs, employees should not compromise with their health, rather organizations should make continuous efforts to promote it. An organization in order to be effective should increase employee participation, opportunities to learn, supportive supervision at all levels, and a culture that gives priority to work-life balance. There is also evidence of causal links between organizations ’ ’productivity and traits like length of working hours, working conditions, employee health, staff turnover, job satisfaction etc. Many studies suggest that healthy workers and healthy working conditions are important preconditions for enterprises to work smoothly and productively. Although significant knowledge gaps remain in the process, but employers, employees and policy makers should together make efforts to create healthy organizations. Interventions based on extensive participation of the employees should be integrated with human resource management policies and programs. These interventions should be multifaceted in nature, intricately related to each other and simultaneously taking place at different levels of an organization. Finally, some limitations of previous research and recommendations for future work in the area of healthy workplace practices are discussed.