Defining Health Promotion:
Perhaps the most well known definition is that of the Ottawa-Charter (1986):

Health Promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health.

To which can be added a determinants perspective which reflects more recent knowledge and understanding:

Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over the determinants of health and thereby improve their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing an individual or group must be able to identify and realise aspirations, to satisfy needs and to change or cope with the environment. (Nutbeam, 1986)

Workplace health promotion (WHP) has been defined as the combined efforts of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work. This is achieved through a combination of

Improving the work organisation and the working environment

Promoting the active participation of employees in health activities

Encouraging personal development

WHP involves:

Having an organisational commitment to improving the health of the workforce

Providing employees with appropriate information and establishing comprehensive communication strategies

Involving employees in decision making processes

Developing a working culture that is based on partnership

Organising work tasks and processes so that they contribute to, rather than damage, health

Implementing policies and practices which enhance employee health by making the healthy choices the easy choices

Recognising that organisations have an impact on people and that this is not always conducive to their health and well-being

The areas of activity for WHP include life-styles, ageing, corporate culture including staff leadership, staff development, work-life balance, mental health and stress, wellness, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), nutrition and health.

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