Improving Workplace Well-Being Through Stress Management and Health Promotion: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Employee well-being and health determine the success of an organization substantially influencing productivity, engagement, and job performance. Stress in the workplace due to heavy workloads, job insecurity, and lack of work-life balance is becoming a burning issue which leads to decreased job satisfaction, and absenteeism. Increasingly, organizations have turned their attention to techniques for managing stress and promoting health to create supportive working environments. Stress Management interventions fall into three levels such as primary (preventive measures such as job design and flexible work hours), secondary (help based on coping strategies such as mindfulness training and cognitive therapy), and tertiary (support programs such as employee assistance programs and counselling). While individual interventions are critically important, organizational approaches towards fostering a healthy work culture work best with individual efforts. In this systematic review of the literature, stress management interventions and health promotion strategies are assessed for their effectiveness in enhancing employee well-being. The study employs an exploratory research design, using qualitative methodology for the analysis of 20 selected articles with a view to highlighting the key challenges, workplace stressors, and intervention impacts. Results suggest that stress management interventions impact positively the well-being of employees while supporting the hypothesis that proactive strategies will improve workplace wellness. Therefore, the study provides essential insights for organizations desiring to implement effective stress reduction and health promotion programs.