Abstract
ABSTRACT Purpose: This is a study on a sport-based intervention, with a focus on physical activity, social relations, and learning, to promote health and well-being in the workplace lived space. Lived space is situated and associated with social and cultural conventions which affect the quality of the perceived space at work. The aim of the paper is to elucidate the participant’s experiences of the intervention and how health and well-being were affected. Methods: The intervention was conducted with employees from the warehouse of a company within the retail sector. The design consisted of one initial workshop as a baseline, a sport-based intervention, three group interviews, and a final workshop. A hermeneutic phenomenological analysis focused on experiences of the intervention and the meaning of the workplace as the lived space. Results: Three themes emerged in the analysis; Expressing positive individual effects, Expressing improved work environment and The meaning of the workplace as lived space. The themes are discussed in relation to three basic health foci: physical activity, social relations and learning. Conclusion: The workplace as a lived space offers a valuable opportunity for sport-based interventions that improve health and well-being through physical activity, social relations, and learning.
Highlights
Poor employee health such as physical inactivity and being unable to manage stress are associated with an increased cost for the employer (Rajaratnam, Sears, Shi, Coberley, & Pope, 2014)
Three themes emerged in the analysis; Expressing positive individual effects, Expressing improved work environment and The meaning of the workplace as lived space
Rationale and aim Physical activity (Delisle, Werch, Wong, Bian, & Weiler, 2010; Warburton & Bredin, 2016), social relations (Lamu & Olsen, 2016) and learning (Perkins & Williamon, 2014; Watson et al, 2018) have positive impacts on physical and psychological well-being. Is it possible to get these positive impacts through a sports-based table-tennis intervention at the workplace? How does the meaning of the workplace as a lived space affect the impact of the intervention? The aim of this paper is to elucidate the participant’s experiences of a sports-based physical activity intervention at the workplace and how health, well-being, social relations, and organizational culture were affected in relation to lived space
Summary
Poor employee health such as physical inactivity and being unable to manage stress are associated with an increased cost for the employer (Rajaratnam, Sears, Shi, Coberley, & Pope, 2014). A number of risks associated with increased costs are considered to be modifiable, that is with the correct intervention strategy employee health can be improved and employer’s costs can be reduced. Adopting a “healthy organizational” culture through health programmes, with strong senior and middle management support, and using interventions can change these modifiable risk factors (Rajaratnam, Sears, Shi, Coberley, & Pope, 2014). Work places have the potential to make a three-to-one return on investment by reducing medical and absenteeism costs, period and improve employee work efficiency (Rajaratnam et al, 2014)
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