Workplace Health Promotion ‘Best Buys’: a scoping review of workplace health initiatives in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Abstract Background Workplace health promotion (WHP) initiatives are crucial for enhancing public health. In 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) published the 'Best Buys' for noncommunicable diseases, but these do not encompass settings such as workplaces. This gap highlights the need for a comprehensive review of WHP initiatives to clarify best practices and feasible implementation strategies for WHP. The seven pillars of self-care offer a framework for creating new and more comprehensive WHP initiatives. Currently, however, the framework does not address workplace wellbeing in tandem with workplace inequalities. Objective We sought to compile and harmonise a list of ‘Best Buy’ recommendations for WHP contextualised within the seven pillars of self-care and the tackling inequalities pillar. Methods A pragmatic scoping review of WHP initiatives in the UK was also conducted. The initiatives were located using internet searches. Data from the initiatives were extracted and reviewed by independent researchers focusing on the relevance, evidential support, and applicability of the recommendations. The data were deductively organised using the seven pillars of self-care and the new pillar of inequality. Inductive coding was then used to highlight recurring patterns, novel ideas or unique perspectives around topics such as implementation within and across pillars. A red, amber, green (RAG) traffic light system was used to capture consensus agreements. The extracted recommendations were harmonised by refining and consolidating duplicate codes. The final list of recommendations was consolidated to arrive at a unique list of ‘WHP Best Buys’ that could be used to guide the creation of new initiatives. Results A total of 26 WHP initiatives from across the UK were initially identified, with 10 retained for in-depth analysis. These initiatives were characterised by a broad focus on workplace health, targeting various health concerns. The study synthesised 58 'Best Buy' recommendations for WHP. Key areas of focus included mental health, physical activity, healthy eating, risk avoidance, and tackling inequalities. Most of these strategies were practical and could be implemented with minimal to moderate resource investment, making them accessible in a wide range of workplaces. Conclusion This study provides a comprehensive list of actionable 'Best Buy' recommendations for WHP, offering valuable insights for organisations and policymakers. These recommendations are grounded in practical, cost-effective strategies suitable for diverse workplace contexts, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to employee health, considering individual wellbeing and organisational support structures.