Buzzwords Defined: Total Worker Health

Here at The Clearing, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we can help leaders create workplace environments that truly support the people who make up their workforce. Much of that work is focused on factors that influence employee wellness and contribute to work-life balance. In many environments, workplace safety also comes into play. While each of those elements is critical, the concept of Total Worker Health (TWH), as defined by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has shifted my perspective on what it means to foster the well-being of employees. It’s also a featured topic at next month’s CoreNet Global Summit, which I will attend with our workplace team.

You can also expect to hear the word “total” on this blog more frequently. In an upcoming feature, we’ll cover the concept of Total Experience (TX),  which, instead of approaching customer experience, employee experience, and user experience as separate areas, recognizes that all these experiences are interdependent but interconnected. That means improving one can positively impact others.

The concept of TX dovetails nicely with TWH, which is likely a topic you’ll continue to hear more about in the future. To get you up to speed, we’ll cover the basics of what it is, why it matters, and how leaders like you can apply the concept in your workplace.

What is Total Worker Health?

TWH is a holistic approach to worker well-being. It goes beyond traditional safety protocols or wellness programs by integrating all aspects of health and safety in the workplace. This includes everything from physical safety to mental health, social well-being, and even financial security. TWH recognizes that factors both inside and outside of work impact an employee’s overall well-being, and it strives to address all of them comprehensively.

Employee Experience Process Product

TWH vs. Work-Life Balance and Standard Safety Measures

While TWH might seem similar to ideas like work-life balance or traditional worker safety procedures, it takes a much more comprehensive and integrated approach. Work-life balance is focused on ensuring employees can divide their time between their personal lives and work responsibilities. Worker safety ensures a workplace remains free of hazards that could cause injury or illness.

TWH, however, considers the whole picture — it addresses everything from job design to stress management, economic security, physical health, and even the broader work culture. It’s not just about avoiding harm but about actively promoting every facet of an employee’s well-being.

The Building Blocks of Total Worker Health

To give you an idea of what this looks like in practice, here are the key components that make up a Total Worker Health approach:

• Workplace Safety: This remains essential – ensuring employees are free from hazards that could lead to injury or illness.
• Work Organization and Environment: This includes factors like workload, job demands, work-life balance, and minimizing stress and fatigue.
• Mental Health and Stress: A positive work culture that reduces stress and addresses mental health challenges is critical.
• Physical Health: This can involve ergonomic improvements, promoting fitness programs, or offering access to preventative healthcare.
• Economic Well-being: Fair wages, job security, and benefits all play a role in reducing financial stress.
• Work-life Integration: Flexible schedules and adequate paid leave allow employees to manage their personal lives alongside work.
• Health Promotion: Encouraging nutrition, exercise, and healthy habits is key to supporting overall well-being.

The Benefits of Total Worker Health

The benefits of adopting a Total Worker Health approach are clear for both individuals and organizations. For employees, there’s the obvious advantage of improved physical and mental health — they feel better supported and less stressed. But TWH also leads to:

	Increased productivity: Developing and committing to a comprehensive strategic plan and targets for decreasing the opioid overdose death rate
	Reduced healthcare costs: Addressing chronic illness and promoting overall well-being helps to keep healthcare costs down.
	Better morale and retention: When employees feel supported and valued, they’re more satisfied with their jobs, which can lead to higher retention rates.
	Comprehensive risk management: By addressing both work-related and non-work-related factors that impact health, you’re managing a wider range of risks.

Leadership Tips for Implementing Total Worker Health Concepts

If you’re interested in to bringing a TWH approach to your organization, here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Commit to Holistic Leadership: Lead by example. Show your team that you’re committed to your own health and safety, and make well-being a core value in your organization.
2. Assess and Understand Worker Needs: Regularly check in with your employees about their concerns and needs — whether through surveys or open dialogue. Understanding what’s impacting their well-being is key to addressing it.
3. Prioritize Workplace Safety: This is foundational. Ensure that your work environment is free from hazards and that managers are trained to recognize and address stress or fatigue in employees.
4. Promote Well-being Beyond the Job: Offer programs that support mental health, fitness, and nutrition. Encourage work-life balance through flexible work arrangements and paid leave.
5. Address Economic and Job Security Concerns: Providing fair wages, robust benefits, and clear paths for career growth helps reduce financial stress and supports long-term employee engagement.
6. Foster a Supportive and Inclusive Culture: Create an environment where employees feel safe discussing their health, stress levels, or personal concerns without fear of stigma. This also includes promoting team-building activities and peer support.
7. Integrate Health and Safety with Productivity: Help employees see the connection between their well-being and their performance. Adjust workloads and deadlines to avoid burnout and absenteeism.
8. Measure and Monitor Progress: Continuously evaluate the impact of your TWH initiatives through health metrics, employee feedback, and data on absenteeism or health claims.
9. Encourage Continuous Learning and Innovation: Stay up-to-date on the latest research around worker health and well-being, and involve your employees in shaping these programs.

What’s Next

The benefits to embracing Total Worker Health are clear: building a healthier, more engaged, and productive workforce. For any leader looking to make meaningful improvements to employee well-being, please reach out. Our team of workplace experts can help you identify optimization opportunities that benefit employees and your organization alike.