Programmes aimed at supporting employees’ health and wellbeing can also benefit their social relationships according to new study.

The research found that the more employees engage with health and wellbeing programmes (HWPs) the better the quality of co-worker relationships.

It also found the less they experience bullying over time and the better their longer-term wellbeing and job satisfaction.

The results suggest that even when senior managers are not committed to these initiatives, employee engagement with HWPs is associated with better relationships at work.

The study was jointly conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) and insurance and investments company Vitality.

The researchers say the findings are particularly relevant given the new patterns of working which have emerged because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Organisations are increasingly adopting HWPs yet further understanding is required of the conditions that may influence their effectiveness on employee outcomes.

Programmes vary in scope and comprehensiveness but can include a broad range of information such as health screening and activities which attempt to reduce health risks.

This three-year study used data from 7,785 UK employees at 64 organisations. Its findings are published in the British Journal of Management.

Lead authors from UEA’s Norwich Business School Dr Roberta Fida and Dr Annilee Game said the evidence showed that promoting wellbeing interventions in the organisations have “unintended” positive consequences.

Dr Fida says: “While organisations may adopt these programmes primarily to target employee health and wellbeing directly, we found that employees’ social relationships also benefit.

“When organisations invest in wellbeing, they communicate care for their employees and this is reciprocated with more respectful interpersonal interactions.

“This in turn significantly reduces the onset of workplace bullying and improves longer term mental and physical health as well as job satisfaction.”

Dr Game adds: “These findings are especially relevant for managers to consider as organisations develop new patterns of working in the post-Covid era. People’s wellbeing has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Investing in HWPs brings both relationship and health benefits that can help support employees adjusting to the new normal.”

The research used 2015-2017 data from ‘Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace’, an annual study about organisational performance and wellbeing of UK organisations and their employees.

The study looks at workplace culture from the employee and organisational perspective using self-report questionnaires.

Any UK-based organisation employing at least 20 people, in any sector, can participate.