A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes
Abstract Background Workplace settings are linked to staff health and wellbeing, affecting sickness absence, presenteeism and productivity. With the growing prevalence of health issues among employees in the UK, including stress and long-term conditions, effective workplace health and wellbeing supp...
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2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23176-3 |
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| author | Austen El-Osta Sami Altalib Aos Alaa Mahmoud Al-Ammouri Manisha Karki Eva Riboli-Sasco Azeem Majeed Laura Kudrna |
| author_facet | Austen El-Osta Sami Altalib Aos Alaa Mahmoud Al-Ammouri Manisha Karki Eva Riboli-Sasco Azeem Majeed Laura Kudrna |
| author_sort | Austen El-Osta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Workplace settings are linked to staff health and wellbeing, affecting sickness absence, presenteeism and productivity. With the growing prevalence of health issues among employees in the UK, including stress and long-term conditions, effective workplace health and wellbeing support by local government can play a crucial role in keeping people economically active and well. Objective Identify and characterise workplace health and wellbeing programmes offered by local authorities within the United Kingdom. Methods A scoping review involved a comprehensive search of Local Authority Districts (LADs) and county councils' websites followed by direct communications between 1 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Initiatives were included if they were designed to enhance workplace health and wellbeing, actively ongoing and offered at no cost to workplaces. Data were extracted on the initiative name, provider, deprivation level, health focus, workplace eligibility and accreditation processes. Results The review identified 61 active local government workplace health programmes across the UK in March 2024, reflecting a 21% provision among local authorities. These initiatives were homogenous in focus, scope of coverage and implementation methods, with all focusing on general health. Geographical mapping highlighted regional disparities in the provision of workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that are free at the point of access (WHISPAs). England had a higher number (Central, Southern, and Southeastern regions specifically) while the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland had a lower number or no WHISPAs. Conclusion There is a need for more coordinated efforts to increase the visibility and accessibility of local government workplace health initiatives that are free at the point of access. National workplace health accreditation could further encourage employers to adopt health and wellbeing programmes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1622c8d3ac9d419c997e46f4fa3cbe22 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1622c8d3ac9d419c997e46f4fa3cbe222025-08-20T02:31:00ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-06-0125112510.1186/s12889-025-23176-3A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmesAusten El-Osta0Sami Altalib1Aos Alaa2Mahmoud Al-Ammouri3Manisha Karki4Eva Riboli-Sasco5Azeem Majeed6Laura Kudrna7Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonDepartment of Primary Care & Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonInstitute of Applied Health Research in BirminghamAbstract Background Workplace settings are linked to staff health and wellbeing, affecting sickness absence, presenteeism and productivity. With the growing prevalence of health issues among employees in the UK, including stress and long-term conditions, effective workplace health and wellbeing support by local government can play a crucial role in keeping people economically active and well. Objective Identify and characterise workplace health and wellbeing programmes offered by local authorities within the United Kingdom. Methods A scoping review involved a comprehensive search of Local Authority Districts (LADs) and county councils' websites followed by direct communications between 1 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Initiatives were included if they were designed to enhance workplace health and wellbeing, actively ongoing and offered at no cost to workplaces. Data were extracted on the initiative name, provider, deprivation level, health focus, workplace eligibility and accreditation processes. Results The review identified 61 active local government workplace health programmes across the UK in March 2024, reflecting a 21% provision among local authorities. These initiatives were homogenous in focus, scope of coverage and implementation methods, with all focusing on general health. Geographical mapping highlighted regional disparities in the provision of workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that are free at the point of access (WHISPAs). England had a higher number (Central, Southern, and Southeastern regions specifically) while the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland had a lower number or no WHISPAs. Conclusion There is a need for more coordinated efforts to increase the visibility and accessibility of local government workplace health initiatives that are free at the point of access. National workplace health accreditation could further encourage employers to adopt health and wellbeing programmes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23176-3Employee healthPublic healthSickness absenceUKWellbeing initiativesWorkplace health |
| spellingShingle | Austen El-Osta Sami Altalib Aos Alaa Mahmoud Al-Ammouri Manisha Karki Eva Riboli-Sasco Azeem Majeed Laura Kudrna A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes BMC Public Health Employee health Public health Sickness absence UK Wellbeing initiatives Workplace health |
| title | A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| title_full | A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| title_fullStr | A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| title_full_unstemmed | A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| title_short | A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| title_sort | scoping review of uk local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes |
| topic | Employee health Public health Sickness absence UK Wellbeing initiatives Workplace health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23176-3 |
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