Employee Views of Organizational Wellness and the EAP: Influence on Substance Use, Drinking Climates, and Policy Attitudes
Abstract
This study examined the influence on substance use of organizational wellness and of attitudes toward the EAP. We developed the Organizational Wellness Scale (OWS) to assess perceptions of healthy (e.g., respectful) and addictive (e.g., workaholic) work climates. Employees from a municipal organization (N = 780) who scored high on the OWS reported less personal and co-worker substance use and enabling behaviors, and more favorable attitudes towards substance use policies. Results suggest that, beyond the influence of the EAP, work site health may effect both individual and work group substance use. Using the OWS, health service providers could benefit from monitoring the impact of organizational wellness on individual and work group health.Description
Preprint manuscript.Citation
Bennett, J. B., & Lehman, W. E. K. (1997). Employee views of organizational wellness and the EAP: Influence on substance use, drinking climates, and policy attitudes. Employee Assistance Quarterly, 13(1), 55-72.Sponsors
Preparation of this work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Grant DA04390 to Wayne E. K. Lehman and D. Dwayne Simpson. The interpretations and conclusions, however, do not necessarily represent the position of NIDA or the U.S. Department of Human Services.Keyword
organizational wellnessEAP
substance use
drinking climates
addictive organizations
measurement
Organizational Wellness Scale (OWS)
Employee assistance programs
Substance abuse