Research Projects on Wellbeing at Work

  • Healthy vegetable lunch box on working desk

    Supporting the Asia's Healthiest Workplace Competition

    02 Dec 2019

    For three years, RAND Europe has supported AIA Vitality's contest. Doing so enables researchers to explore the health trends—employee lifestyle, clinical indicators, mental health and other areas of concern—among participating Asia-Pacific workplaces.

  • Smiling employees having meal in office lunchroom, photo by WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock

    Britain's Healthiest Workplace survey findings

    25 Nov 2019

    Absence and presenteeism accounts for an average of 38 days' lost productivity per employee per year, marking an upward trend in lost productivity since 2014, when the number was only 23 days.

  • Yoga mat, mobile phone, dumbbells, bottle of water and measuring tape

    Evaluating the Wellbeing Premium Programme

    29 Oct 2019

    Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often find it hard to invest in the health and wellbeing of their employees, or do not invest at all. Researchers are evaluating a randomised controlled trial of a financial incentive programme to improve employee health and wellbeing in SMEs in the West Midlands.

  • Illustration of wellbeing at work, photo by Gerhard Ledwinka/Adobe Stock

    Practices and combinations of practices for health and wellbeing at work

    29 Aug 2019

    Researchers are examining the factors that enable or hinder the implementation of workplace health and wellbeing practices. The research will consider whether certain combinations of practices are more effective than other combinations, or effective for some types of organisations and not others.

  • Tensed male nurse leaning on wall in corridor, photo by WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock

    Does de-escalation training reduce violence in the healthcare environment?

    07 Aug 2019

    De-escalation training for NHS staff may not in itself reduce the number of violent or aggressive incidents, but it can contribute to improved workplace wellbeing. Using comprehensive approaches to managing violence in NHS settings may be more effective than de-escalation training alone.

  • Tablet pc with healthcare mobile apps, and medical objects on a desk

    Benchmarking deployment of eHealth among European GPs

    30 May 2019

    RAND Europe and partners measured the use of ICT and eHealth applications by primary care physicians in the EU 28 Member States and Norway, compared the results with a 2013 study, and analysed the main drivers of change and factors that can enhance or inhibit the role and use of technologies within health care.

  • Man sits on a bed at night, photo by cliplab.pro/Adobe Stock

    How nightly bathroom trips affect health and productivity

    12 Mar 2019

    Nocturia —waking two or more times per night to void — is a common condition associated with lower life satisfaction, work engagement and productivity. An economic analysis also finds it costs up to $79 billion lost economic output per year across six countries.

  • Group of active, cheerful friends in the park

    Requiring repayment of incentives encourages greater wellness

    27 Nov 2018

    Wellness incentives are more successful when they provide a benefit up front and require repayment if recipients do not maintain a required level of activity, according to a longitudinal study of nearly 500,000 programme participants.

  • Group of business people at the office making an active break and stretching ther bodies

    Research identifies promising practices in health and wellbeing at work

    25 Jul 2018

    Many health and wellbeing interventions are available to UK employers. Researchers graded them against Nesta standards and developed case studies of the most promising practices that support policy and organisational decision making.

  • Connected Society Thought Leadership Programme

    12 Oct 2017

    RAND Europe worked partnership with the Corsham Institute to design and deliver the 2016 and 2017 Thought Leadership Programmes. The consultations explored the opportunities and challenges that digital technologies are creating within society.

  • Desktop with 'Mental Health' on notepad

    Understanding Mental Health in the Research Environment

    22 Aug 2017

    Burnout and stress can be a challenge for university research staff and postgraduates. An exploration of the strengths and limitations of the existing evidence base on mental health in the research environment found that more work is needed to understand both the needs of researchers and how they can be addressed.

  • Businesswoman suffering from neck pain at the office

    Evaluation of the Innovation Fund Health-led Trials

    10 Jul 2017

    Innovation Fund Health-led Trials test new ways to address sickness absence and the disability employment gap due to two main conditions: mental health and musculoskeletal disorders. RAND Europe, together with partners, is evaluating the effectiveness of these innovative interventions.

  • Charts showing ROI

    Companies should measure the ROI for preventive healthcare programmes

    30 May 2017

    Only a small amount of pharmaceutical companies measure the return on investment of their workplace health promotion programmes in a systematic manner, but data from GSK clearly demonstrates the potential business case for companies to invest in the health and wellbeing of its workforce.

  • Workplace Wellbeing Charter logo

    Analysing the Impact of the Workplace Wellbeing Charter

    18 Apr 2017

    Public Health England commissioned an analysis of the take-up and impact of the Workplace Wellbeing Charter; the end product includes a set of case studies to help strengthen and expand the evidence base that underpins the Charter.

  • Woman with insomnia, and alarm clock on night table showing 3 a.m.

    The Costs of Insufficient Sleep

    30 Nov 2016

    Sleep deprivation is associated with economic losses to five of the world’s largest economies, due to higher mortality risk and productivity losses at work. Economic modelling showed nations can lose up to 3 per cent of their GDP from insufficient sleep.

  • Businessman looking at mobile phone

    Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) Has Positive Impact

    19 Oct 2016

    Studies of cCBT tools indicate that they have a positive effect on many mental health outcomes, particularly for those with depression, anxiety disorders and insomnia. Fewer studies examined work-related effects, but those were also positive.

  • Internet of Things illustration

    Accelerating the Internet of Things in the UK

    04 Oct 2016

    Insights from Internet of Things (IoT) implementations and informed users of technology led researchers to support a process for policy feedback that can inform IoT development and adoption in the UK.

  • Girl with balloons, walking on beach

    Better Health Outcomes Are Related to Social Expenditure

    11 May 2016

    Research shows that, across OECD countries, higher levels of social spending are strongly associated with better health, and the association is particularly strong for public social spending. Additionally, the association between social spending and better health strengthens over time.

  • A medical team works together to provide unified care

    Helping the NHS Evaluate and Promote the Health of its Workforce

    05 Apr 2016

    A comprehensive survey of staff health and wellbeing at a selection of NHS organisations will map in detail the physical and mental health of NHS staff as well as their perceptions of existing work-wellbeing initiatives and organisational culture.