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1 – 4 of 4Andrew McCart and Meera Alagaraja
A descriptive case study approach was adopted to examine employees' perceptions of the prevalence and usefulness of wellness programs. Relying on Centers for Disease Control and…
Abstract
Purpose
A descriptive case study approach was adopted to examine employees' perceptions of the prevalence and usefulness of wellness programs. Relying on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health ScoreCard (CDC HSC), this study aims to assess the prevalence of worksite wellness programs, policies and benefits in general and incorporated employee perspectives to contextualize the CDC HSC wellness assessments.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors first compared the CDC HSC assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of wellness programs in 20 select organizations. Follow-up employee interviews (n = 25) were conducted to contextualize the CDC HSC assessments.
Findings
A variety of wellness programs are likely to increase employee engagement and participation when organizations adopt a bundling approach to combine wellness policies, incentives and an array of wellness programming opportunities that encourage and incentivize employees’ health promotion behaviors.
Research limitations/implications
Future researchers might examine health metrics, in terms of dollars, doctor visits or biometrics before and after the implementation of a wellness program or paid wellness coordinator. Because this study interviewed employees and not members of executive leadership or finance and accounting, financial metrics were not available or the focus of this study. The inclusion of leaders and directors of wellness initiatives would offer additional ways for examining the impact of wellness initiatives on employee behaviors on organizational outcomes.
Practical implications
Nutrition, weight management and chronic disease management were identified as major challenges impacting the health of employees. Even when organizations reported robust scores in their CDC HSC assessments, employers identified these three areas as critical for sustaining the health and well-being of their employees. Finally, the issue of employee safety was a top priority for all organizations regardless of how they scored on their CDC HSC assessments.
Social implications
The authors suggest that when high-impact wellness practices are linked to organizational supports in the workplace, these efforts are likely to have more positive effects on both employee outcomes and organizational outcomes. A regular routine of checking on wellness issues can help keep potential problems from going unnoticed. An example of this is a reminder to stretch at a morning meeting or during work hours as a reminder to stay focused on health and well-being.
Originality/value
The authors aggregated the organizational assessments for different wellness interventions and compared the scores (falling above or below) with standardized CDC wellness scores. The incorporation of the CDC scorecard ensured a standardized and evidence-based evaluation of workplace wellness programs. This additional step informed the interview guide and follow-up with employees who offered recommendations for how organizations could enhance their wellness programs and policies.
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Malik Brakni, Hélène Gorge and Nil Ozcaglar-Toulouse
This study aims to understand the progressive marketization of health data collection and use, through a study of its historical development in France, from the 1930s to the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the progressive marketization of health data collection and use, through a study of its historical development in France, from the 1930s to the present day.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors collected a set of legal, institutional, political and media data. These came from the INA (National Audiovisual Institute), the French national newspaper websites and the websites legifrance.gouv.fr and vie-publique.fr. The authors then conducted a thematic content analysis.
Findings
The study results highlight the changes in the health-care system related to the increased use of data in France over three major periods. The first period – 1930s to 1980s – is marked by the creation of the French social security system to collect large sets of data to better manager people’s health care. The second period – 1980s to 2000s – is characterized by the adoption and assimilation of tools to manage patient data through several national and European regulations. The last period – 2000s to the present – saw the introduction of measures in favor of the digitalization of health care, and consequently of data, in parallel with the advancement of digital technologies in general. The institutional dynamics in healthcare have evolved with the nature of the actors and their practices, in connection with new perceptions about health data.
Originality/value
This research sheds light on the historical transformation of health data collection and use in France, revealing the involvement of diverse stakeholders, the discourses driving data development and the need for regulation. It exposes the dual nature of health data collection and use, initially sanctioned by the state and public entities but later exploited for private interests.
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Amisha Gupta and Shumalini Goswami
The study examines the impact of behavioral biases, such as herd behavior, overconfidence and reactions to ESG News, on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) decisions in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The study examines the impact of behavioral biases, such as herd behavior, overconfidence and reactions to ESG News, on Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) decisions in the Indian context. Additionally, it explores gender differences in SRI decisions, thereby deepening the understanding of the factors shaping SRI choices and their implications for sustainable finance and gender-inclusive investment strategies.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs Bayesian linear regression to analyze the impact of behavioral biases on SRI decisions among Indian investors since it accommodates uncertainties and integrates prior knowledge into the analysis. Posterior distributions are determined using the Markov chain Monte Carlo technique, ensuring robust and reliable results.
Findings
The presence of behavioral biases presents challenges and opportunities in the financial sector, hindering investors’ SRI engagement but offering valuable opportunities for targeted interventions. Peer advice and hot stocks strongly predict SRI engagement, indicating external influences. Investors reacting to extreme ESG events increasingly integrate sustainability into investment decisions. Gender differences reveal a greater inclination of women towards SRI in India.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size was relatively small and restricted to a specific geographic region, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other areas. While efforts were made to select a diverse sample, the results may represent something different than the broader population. The research focused solely on individual investors and did not consider the perspectives of institutional investors or other stakeholders in the SRI industry.
Practical implications
The study's practical implications are twofold. First, knowing how behavioral biases, such as herd behavior, overconfidence, and reactions to ESG news, affect SRI decisions can help investors and managers make better and more sustainable investment decisions. To reduce biases and encourage responsible investing, strategies might be created. In addition, the discovery of gender differences in SRI decisions, with women showing a stronger propensity, emphasizes the need for targeted marketing and communication strategies to promote more engagement in sustainable finance. These implications provide valuable insights for investors, managers, and policymakers seeking to advance sustainable investment practices.
Social implications
The study has important social implications. It offers insights into the factors influencing individuals' SRI decisions, contributing to greater awareness and responsible investment practices. The gender disparities found in the study serve as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity in sustainable finance to promote balanced and equitable participation. Addressing these disparities can empower individuals of both genders to contribute to positive social and environmental change. Overall, the study encourages responsible investing and has a beneficial social impact by working towards a more sustainable and socially conscious financial system.
Originality/value
This study addresses a significant research gap by employing Bayesian linear regression method to examine the impact of behavioral biases on SRI decisions thereby offering more meaningful results compared to conventional frequentist estimation. Furthermore, the integration of behavioral finance with sustainable finance offers novel perspectives, contributing to the understanding of investors, investment managers, and policymakers, therefore, catalyzing responsible capital allocation. The study's exploration of gender dynamics adds a new dimension to the existing research on SRI and behavioral finance.
Details
Keywords
- Behavioral finance
- SRI
- ESG
- Sustainable finance
- Behavioral biases
- Asian financial markets
- G40 behavioral finance: general
- G11 portfolio choice; investment decisions
- C11 Bayesian analysis: general
- O44 environment and growth
- Q01 sustainable development
- Bayesian analysis (C11)
- Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions (G11)
- Behavioral Finance: General (G40)
- Environment and Growth (O44)
- Sustainable Development (Q01)