Other Titles
Academia's role in creating healthy work environments
Abstract
A positive workplace culture is perhaps one of the most dynamic factors thought to be integral to an organization's success, as it has potential to significantly boost employee commitment, engagement, and job satisfaction (Burchell & Robin, 2011). One aspect that plays into the health of organizational culture is 'social capital,' which refers to the thought that social networking and interpersonal relationships create value and resources for individuals and organizations (DiCicco-Bloom et al., 2007; Read, 2013). Formulated by American education scholar L. J. Hanifan (1916), 'social capital' is defined as 'goodwill, fellowship, mutual sympathy and social intercourse among a group of individuals and families who make up a social unit' (p. 130). He proposed that placing time and attention towards investing in social capital by getting people to socialize and work together made life worthwhile to people in their everyday lives (Hanifan, 1916; Read, 2013). Subsequent classical work on the concept of social capital adds that it has capacity to boost productivity outcomes that may otherwise be unachievable (Coleman, 1988); in nursing, this relates to stronger outcomes for nurses, patients and health care organizations through improved communication, teamwork, staff retention, and patient safety (Read, 2013). If positive working relationships contribute so strongly to thriving, professional environments, perhaps then leaders of change in academia and health care can foster positive, healthy workplace environments through intentional activities directed towards investment in their organization's social capital. The purpose of this presentation is to summarize how the implementation of a 'Faculty-Staff Field Day' event was used as an innovative approach to cultivating a healthy academic-based work environment. A brief discussion on the planning, implementation, and feedback evaluation of the Field Day event will be offered, as well as 'tried-and-true' recommendations for future implementation. Specific activities used for this event will also be shared, as they were intentionally planned to promote physical activity, an increased sense of community, and enhanced collegial relationships among faculty and staff participants. Learning Objectives: Distinguish how a Field Day event can be used to cultivate a healthy workplace environment. Integrate 'tried-and-true' recommendations with the planning, implementation, and evaluation considerations of a Field Day event. Create specific activities that may be used to promote physical activity, an increased sense of community, and enhanced collegial relationships among participants of a Field Day event.
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Omega
Lead Author Affiliation
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Innovative Strategies, Positive Working Relationships, Academia
Recommended Citation
Kaylor, Sara K. and Johnson, Paige, "Bringing back field day: An innovative approach to cultivating healthy work environments" (2017). Creating Healthy Work Environments Event Materials. 52.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2017/presentations_2017/52
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments 2017
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2017
Rights Holder
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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Bringing back field day: An innovative approach to cultivating healthy work environments
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
A positive workplace culture is perhaps one of the most dynamic factors thought to be integral to an organization's success, as it has potential to significantly boost employee commitment, engagement, and job satisfaction (Burchell & Robin, 2011). One aspect that plays into the health of organizational culture is 'social capital,' which refers to the thought that social networking and interpersonal relationships create value and resources for individuals and organizations (DiCicco-Bloom et al., 2007; Read, 2013). Formulated by American education scholar L. J. Hanifan (1916), 'social capital' is defined as 'goodwill, fellowship, mutual sympathy and social intercourse among a group of individuals and families who make up a social unit' (p. 130). He proposed that placing time and attention towards investing in social capital by getting people to socialize and work together made life worthwhile to people in their everyday lives (Hanifan, 1916; Read, 2013). Subsequent classical work on the concept of social capital adds that it has capacity to boost productivity outcomes that may otherwise be unachievable (Coleman, 1988); in nursing, this relates to stronger outcomes for nurses, patients and health care organizations through improved communication, teamwork, staff retention, and patient safety (Read, 2013). If positive working relationships contribute so strongly to thriving, professional environments, perhaps then leaders of change in academia and health care can foster positive, healthy workplace environments through intentional activities directed towards investment in their organization's social capital. The purpose of this presentation is to summarize how the implementation of a 'Faculty-Staff Field Day' event was used as an innovative approach to cultivating a healthy academic-based work environment. A brief discussion on the planning, implementation, and feedback evaluation of the Field Day event will be offered, as well as 'tried-and-true' recommendations for future implementation. Specific activities used for this event will also be shared, as they were intentionally planned to promote physical activity, an increased sense of community, and enhanced collegial relationships among faculty and staff participants. Learning Objectives: Distinguish how a Field Day event can be used to cultivate a healthy workplace environment. Integrate 'tried-and-true' recommendations with the planning, implementation, and evaluation considerations of a Field Day event. Create specific activities that may be used to promote physical activity, an increased sense of community, and enhanced collegial relationships among participants of a Field Day event.