The utilisation of an employee wellness programme and factors determining its usage in a South African organisation.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the employee wellness programmes used within the Passenger Railway Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and the factors that influence the programme’s utilisation. The findings of this study present the utilisation rates, as well as the perceptions of employee wellness within PRASA. The main objective of the study was to explore the organ-isational dynamics (processes and operations) influencing employees’ utilisation rates of em-ployee wellness programmes (EWP) or employee assistance programmes (EAP) at PRASA. The secondary objectives were to: a) understand the organisational dynamics that account for the low utilisation rates and the general usage of EWP/EAP at PRASA; b) explore the accessibility of the EWP/EAP to PRASA employees; c) explore employees’ understanding and perceptions of the EWP/EAP service; and d) to develop a conceptual framework and intervention for the utilisation of employee wellness services. Considering both individual and system-level factors, a conceptual framework was developed to understand the multitude of factors that influences the utilisation of EWP/EAP. Qualitative research was employed to explore participants’ accounts and perceptions of employee well-ness. A total of 30 PRASA employees were recruited to participate in the study and were interviewed individually using a semi-structured interview schedule. The participants com-prised of train drivers, supervisors, managers, yard masters, administration staff and the EWP/EAP practitioner currently employed within the PRASA clinic. A total of nine themes and subthemes emerged from analysing the data. Although there was a general acceptance and a strong approval of employee wellness services, the key findings of the study showed a poor promotion of wellness services; a need for the change of location of the services due to con-cerns over confidentiality and issues with organisational leadership’s views of employee well-ness services. The study concluded that organisational culture and PRASA’s organisational objectives have not effectively positioned employee wellness services. The study proposes a conceptual framework for the successful implementation of employee wellness services in the workplace in a South African context