Abstract:
Background: Employee Wellness Programmes (EWPs) is a comprehensive health
initiative which is a strategy to maintain and improve the well-being of employees. EWPs
are profoundly helpful in ensuring that the wellbeing of employees is taken care of. The
programme can be assessed by the programme developers to ensure that the
programme remains responsive to rapidly changing educational and healthcare settings.
The evaluation of EWPs has greater potential to influence its utilisation by employees.
This study sought to understand and document employee wellness programme utilisation
in the Department of Transport and Community Safety.
Objectives: To explore and describe employee wellness programme utilisation in the
Department of Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo Province.
Methods: The study used the qualitative research approach. Participants of the study
were full-time employees at the Department of Transport and Community Safety. Data
was collected through semi-structured interviews and the sample size was 15 participants
which was determined by saturation of data. Data was analysed through Thematic
Content Analysis. Results: Lack of wellness programme utilisation among employees and identified cases
of chronic illness, insufficient physical activity and those case that are stress related
amongst employees which were received at EWP component are associated with lack of
understanding for the programme. The study provides a useful qualitative enquiry of
employees at Department of Transport and Community Safety about the programme
utilisation. Conclusion: Many employees have concluded that Employee Wellness Programmes
intent to enhance and maintain the well-being of employees. However, in Department of
Transport and Community Safety (DTCS), there is a serious need for strengthening the
implementation of EWPs to improve utilisation.
