Organizational Health Management Interventions in the Australian Construction Industry: An Evaluation of One Case Study Project

摘要

Work conditions in the construction industry are notoriously demanding. In Australia, construction workers are required to work long hours, typically over six days. Project-based workers work significantly longer hours and experience higher levels of work-life conflict, job stress and burnout than their counterparts in the corporate offices of construction firms. Problems of job dissatisfaction, increased turnover intention, lack of general well-being, substance abuse and, psychological and psychiatric problems have all been associated with a lack of balance between work and non-work life. This paper presents a post hoc evaluation of a three-pronged employee healthy lifestyle promotion intervention which was introduced at a large Australian infrastructure construction project. The results highlight the benefits associated with the adoption of an integrated approach to the management of employees' work-life balance, health and wellbeing. The authors argue that construction organisations should broaden the scope of their occupational health and safety (OH&S) management activities to address issues of work-life balance and general employee "wellness."