Workplace Health Promotion

Introduction

Workplace health promotion programs are defined as a series of strategies and activities, initiatives and policies developed with collaboration of the employer and employees to enhance the quality of working life and overall well-being of workers within an organization (CCOHS, 2017). Workplace health promotion programs provide numerous benefits for both the employer and workers (World Health Organization, 2017). For instance, benefits to the workers include: increase in productivity, promotes the raising of healthy families, enhance self-esteem, promotes a healthy work environment, improves staff morale, increases job satisfaction, improved health and a greater sense of well-being (World Health Organization, 2017). Similarly,

Since a large portion of work within Microsoft involves sitting at a desk for extended periods of time, the implementation of health programs are essential in order to maintain healthy lifestyles (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Physically inactive lifestyles provide a leeway for chronic diseases such as metabolic diseases as well as cardiovascular diseases (Ryu, Jung, Cho & Chin, 2017). Chandrasiri et al. (2016) has described non-communicable diseases to be a major threat to health due to the modern life style. Chandrasiri i et al. (2016) has conducted a health promotion study in a Sri Lankan based office setting and has identified that around 26% of participants were physically inactive, 12.5% smokers. 23.4% were identified as overweight and obese, with a body mass index of 25% and higher. Among the participants, 9.9% had hypertension, 12.3% with dyslipedia. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (2016) has concluded that the implementation of worker programs can significantly reduce the risks of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, thereby enhancing the quality of life for