Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths in the United States each year, with African Americans (AAs) disproportionately affected. Individual-level approaches to reducing CVD remain ineffective, mobilizing a movement that advocates for population-based solutions. Workplace wellness programs (WWPs) have gained considerable traction as a viable strategy for ameliorating CVD burden among workers in general. However, no studies have looked at the efficacy of WWPs in ameliorating CVD specifically among AA employees--a knowledge gap that this investigation aimed to close. Based on the health belief model and the social cognitive theory, this retrospective cohort study used de-identified secondary data to evaluate the racial differences in the mean change in CVD biomarkers between 163 AAs and 228 Caucasians civilian workers participating in a U.S. Marine Corp self-directed WWP. The 4 CVD biomarkers evaluated were systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and waist-to-hip ratio. Repeated measures MANCOVA analysis was used to establish the contribution of the independent variable (race) to SBP, DBP, LDL cholesterol, and waist-to-hip ratio. Results showed an overall significant main effect of time for changes in SBP and DBP even after controlling for race, sex, age, and days from baseline. However, there was no overall main effect of time for changes in LDL cholesterol or waist-to-hip ratio. Further research using randomization, a comprehensive health risk appraisal, and a larger sample size may yield additional benefits to AAs. Implications for positive social change include reduction of the extraordinarily high CVD disease burden and disparity among AAs.

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Abstract in English, Venda and Zulu / Workplace wellness, organisational commitment and retention play a phenomenal role in organisations. Insurance companies form part of the organisations affected by retention of employees. Employees need to be physically, spiritually, socially, emotionally, intellectually, occupationally and environmentally well to perform, commit and remain in the organisation for longer. The objective of the study was to (i) establish a relationship between workplace wellness, organisational commitment and retention among employees of an insurance organisation in Johannesburg, (ii) to establish whether a relationship exists between the variables and the demographics age, gender, race groups, marital status and education levels. A deductive quantitative research method with systematic sampling was utilized to gather and evaluate the data in a sample of 726 randomly selected participants. A 22.59% response rate was obtained. The findings indicate significant relationships between the respondents', workplace wellness, organisational commitment and retention, also between workplace wellness, retention and education level. This is an indication that workplace wellness and organisational commitment has an influence on retaining employees and that employees with a level of education attest to that. No significant relations found between variables workplace wellness, organisational commitment, retention and the biographical variables age, gender, marital status, employment levels. No significant relations were found between organisational commitment and education level. The findings of this research contribute to the existing body of knowledge by providing human resource managers and practitioners with insights on specific commitment and retention strategies that will make employees commit and remain longer in the organisation. An important understanding gained on retention strategies will assist human resource managers to design relevant interventions to have committed employees and retain them. / Impilonhle emsebenzini, ukuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi kudlala indima enkulu ezinhlanganweni. Izinkampani zomshwalense ziyingxenye yezinhlangano ezithintekayo ekugcinweni kwabasebenzi. Abasebenzi kumele babe sesimweni esihle ngokomzimba, ngokomphefumulo, ngokwemizwa, ngokwengqondo, ngokomsebenzi kanye nangokwesimo semvelo abaphila kusona ukuze bakwazi ukwenza umsebenzi wabo kahle futhi bahlale isikhathi eside enhlanganweni. Injongo yalolu cwaningo kwabe (i) kuwukubheka nokuthola ubudlelwano phakathi kwempilonhle emsebenzini, ukuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi ezinhlanganweni zomshwalense eGoli, (ii) ukuthola ukuthi bukhona yini ubudlelwano phakathi kwezimo ezintathu ezishiwo ngenhla (impilonhle emsebenzini, ukuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi) kanye nezici eziphathelene nabantu ezinjengeminyaka yobudala, ubulili, uhlanga/ibala lomuntu, isimo somshado kanye namazinga emfundo. Kwasetshenziswa i-deductive quantitative research method ehambisana ne-systematic sampling ukuqoqa nokuhlola idatha kubabambiqhaza bocwangino abangama-726 ababeqokwe ngaphandle kokulandela indlela ethile ehlelekile. Kwatholakala izinga lokuphendula (response rate) elingama-22.59%. Imiphumela yocwaningo ibonisa ukuba khona kobudlelwano obukhulu phakathi kwempilonhle emsebenzini, ukuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi; futhi bukhona ubudlelwano phakathi kwempilonhle emsebenzini nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi kanye nezinga lemfundo. Lokhu kuyinkomba yokuthi impilonhle emsebenzini kanye nokuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kunawo umthelela ekugcinweni kwabasebenzi futhi abasebenzi abanezinga elithile lemfundo bawubufakazi balokho. Abukho ubudlelwano obuphawulekayo obatholakala phakathi kwezimo ezinjengempilonhle emsebenzini, ukuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nokugcinwa kwabasebenzi kanye nezici eziphathelene nabantu ezinjengeminyaka yobudala, ubulili, isimo somshado kanye namazinga okuqashwa. Futhi abukho ubudlelwano obuphawulekayo obatholakala phakathi kokuzibophezela kwabasebenzi enhlanganweni kanye nezinga lemfundo. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo ifaka isandla olwazini olukhona njengamanje ngokuhlinzeka abaphathi kanye nabasebenzi beminyango yezindaba zabasebenzi ngolwazi oluzobalekelela ukuthi bakwazi ukuqonda kahle amaqhingasu athile aphathelene nokuzibophezela kwabasebenzi kanye nokugcinwa kwabo emsebenzini okuyinto ezokwenza ukuthi abasebenzi bazibophezele futhi bahlale isikhathi eside enhlanganweni. Ukuqonda amaqhingasu okugcinwa kwabasebenzi kuzolekelela abaphathi beminyango yezindaba zabasebenzi ukuthi bakwazi ukwenza izinhlelo zokungenelela ezifanelekile ukuze babe nabasebenzi abazibophezele futhi babagcine emsebenzini. / Mutakalo mushumoni, u ḓikumedzela ha tshiimiswa na u dzudza zwi shela mulenzhe nga huhulu kha tshiimiswa. Khamphani dza ndindakhombo dzi vhumba tshipiḓa tsha zwiimiswa zwo khwameaho zwa u dzudza vhatholwa mushumoni. Vhatholwa vha tea u vha vhe na mutakalo muvhilini, muyani, matshilisano, mielekanyo, vhuṱali, mushumo na vhupo havhuḓi u kona u shuma, u ḓikumedzela, na u dzula kha tshiimiswa lwa tshifhinga tshilapfu. Ndivho ya ngudo ho vha u (i) thoma vhushaka vhukati ha mutakalo mushumoni, u ḓikumedzela ha tshiimiswa na u dzudza vhukati ha vhatholwa vha tshiimiswa tsha ndindakhombo ngei Johannesburg, (ii) u vhona arali hu na vhushaka vhukati ha zwishanduwaho na vhukale ha tshandukisatshivhumbeo, mbeu, zwigwada zwa mirafho, nyimele ya mbingano na vhuimo ha pfunzo. Kuitele kwa ṱhoḓisiso dzo no itwaho nga vhaṅwe kwa khwaḽithethivi na vhukhethatsumbonanguludzwa kwo shumiswa u kuvhanganya na u ela data kha tsumbonanguludzwa dza 726 dza vhadzheneli vho nangwaho nga nḓila ye zwa itea ngayo. Ho waniwa phimo ya u fhindula ya 22.59%. Mawanwa a sumbedzisa vhushaka ha ndeme vhukati ha vhafhinduli vha mutakalo mushumoni, u dzudza na u ḓikumedzela ha tshiimiswa; na vhukati ha mutakalo mushumoni, u dzudza na vhuimo ha pfunzo. Heyi ndi tsumbo ya uri mutakalo mushumoni na u ḓikumedzela ha tshiimiswa zwi na ṱhuṱhuwedzo kha u dzudza vhatholwa na uri vhatholwa na vha re na vhuimo ha pfunzo vho zwi khwaṱhisedza. A huna vhushaka ha ndeme he ha wanala vhukati ha zwishanduwaho zwa mutakalo mushumoni, u ḓikumedzela ha tshiimiswa na u dzudza, vhukale ha zwishanduwaho zwa nganeavhutshilo, mbeu, nyimele ya mbingano na vhuimo ha mushumo. Mawanwa a ṱhoḓisiso iyi o shela mulenzhe kha ndivho ya tshiimiswa i re hone nga u ṋetshedza ndivho vhalanguli vha zwiko zwa vhashumi na vhashumeli nga ha u ḓikumedzela ho tiwaho na zwiṱirathedzhi zwa u dzudza zwine zwa ḓo ita uri vhatholwa vha ḓikumedzele nga vhone vhaṋe kha, na u dzula tshifhinga tshilapfu kha tshiimiswa. U pfesesa zwi tshi elana na zwiṱirathedzhi zwa u dzudza zwi ḓo thusa vhalanguli vha zwiko zwa vhashumi u dzudzanya u dzhenelela ho teaho u vha na vhatholwa vho ḓikumedzelaho na u vha dzudza. / Business Management / M. Com. (Business Management)

Esta investigación busca analizar las percepciones de los colaboradores en una de las big four, sobre su bienestar laboral a través de la identificación y conocimiento de los factores que las facilitan y limitan. Como técnica de recolección de datos, se acude al diseño fenomenológico-hermenéutico, con el uso de entrevistas semiestructuradas, las cuales son analizadas en búsqueda de hallazgos para la descripción del fenómeno. Como resultado, las actividades de bienestar laboral realizadas en una de las big four no son percibidas por sus colaboradores porque las políticas de la organización son orientadas a resultados con base en la productividad laboral. / This research seeks to analyze the perceptions of employees, in one of the big four, about their work well-being through the identification and knowledge of the factors that facilitate and limit them. As a data collection technique, the phenomenological-hermeneutical design is used, with the use of semi-structured interviews, which are analyzed in search of findings to describe the phenomenon. As a result, the labor welfare activities carried out in one of the big four are not perceived by its collaborators because the organization's policies are oriented towards results based on labor productivity. / Tesis

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the management of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). This entailed an assessment of the levels of awareness amongst employees, and an assessment of employees’ knowledge of the policy and its implementation. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected employees. It was found that the respondents’ level of awareness of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Stats SA was satisfactory. Although some differences were observed, overall it seems that Stats SA was successful in promoting general awareness of its policy and its contents. However, as far as the respondents’ attitudes and opinions relating to the implementation of the policy at Stats SA are concerned, several issues still need to be addressed. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

This research project explores whether the delivery of positive psychology interventions in the workplace through an employee assistance program (EAP) can improve employees’ authentic happiness/flourishing as well as decrease symptoms of depression. A small convenience sample of 13 Manitoba public school educators accessing employee assistance were recruited for a quasi-experimental research design. Nine participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the remaining participants assigned to the control. Experimental group members participated in a six session psychoeducational, experiential, and process-oriented positive psychotherapy group that met once a week over six weeks. Experimental group participants’ scores on the authentic happiness/flourishing measure increased by a statistically significant 9% and depression scores decreased by a statistically significant 45% from pre-intervention to one month post-intervention. The study’s findings therefore provide promising confirmation that positive psychology interventions delivered through EAPs can make a meaningful difference as both secondary prevention and primary enhancement strategies in the workplace.

This research project explores whether the delivery of positive psychology interventions in the workplace through an employee assistance program (EAP) can improve employees’ authentic happiness/flourishing as well as decrease symptoms of depression. A small convenience sample of 13 Manitoba public school educators accessing employee assistance were recruited for a quasi-experimental research design. Nine participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the remaining participants assigned to the control. Experimental group members participated in a six session psychoeducational, experiential, and process-oriented positive psychotherapy group that met once a week over six weeks. Experimental group participants’ scores on the authentic happiness/flourishing measure increased by a statistically significant 9% and depression scores decreased by a statistically significant 45% from pre-intervention to one month post-intervention. The study’s findings therefore provide promising confirmation that positive psychology interventions delivered through EAPs can make a meaningful difference as both secondary prevention and primary enhancement strategies in the workplace.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the management of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). This entailed an assessment of the levels of awareness amongst employees, and an assessment of employees’ knowledge of the policy and its implementation. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected employees. It was found that the respondents’ level of awareness of the HIV and AIDS workplace policy at Stats SA was satisfactory. Although some differences were observed, overall it seems that Stats SA was successful in promoting general awareness of its policy and its contents. However, as far as the respondents’ attitudes and opinions relating to the implementation of the policy at Stats SA are concerned, several issues still need to be addressed. / Sociology / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)