An examination of the influence of culture, climate and leadership as drivers of a healthy workplace

The purpose of this study was to explore the many components of a working environment that should be considered when developing a healthy workplace. The definition of a healthy workplace is expressed in terms of the organization's practices in providing an internal working environment that supports, protects and promotes the health and well-being of employees while concomitantly pursuing its business goals (Jaffe, 1995). To test this definition the internal working environment was contextualized as the culture, social climate, and leadership style. These variables were then used to examine the influence of the internal working environment on perceptions of organizational health practice and occupational bond as drivers of a healthy workplace. Employees from four organizations based in the United Kingdom participated in the study (N=168 employees). The results indicate that each of the independent variables culture, climate or leadership, are each significant predictors of organizational bond and health practice when analyzed singularly. More importantly however is the differential impact of these variables on occupational bond and health practices when viewed through the comprehensive model such that positive aspects of the working environment dampen the negative effects. The study also shows that the proximal social environment is more influential in promoting occupational bond in the workplace than the distal environment of culture and leadership. The applied implication of these findings when developing a healthy workplace is that over and above culture and leadership influences, the proximal environment of climate and health practices is a salient force among workers. Overall this study speaks to the need for contextualizing the workplace before initiating organizational improvement or development.