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Topic

Designing and Implementing Employee Wellness Frameworks: An Action Research Approach

School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education

Date & location

• Thursday, April 17, 2025

• 12:00 P.M.

• Virtual Defence

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. John Meldrum, School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, University of Victoria (Co-Supervisor)

• Dr. Jean Buckler, School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, UVic (Co-Supervisor)

• Prof. Caroline Dickon, School of Business, Langara College (Outside Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Michael Dubnewick, Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Marilou Gagnon, School of Nursing, UVic

   

Abstract

This dissertation investigates employee wellness frameworks in post-secondary education institutes, contributing to the development of effective frameworks, to inform academic study in this area, and to support post-secondary institutions looking to use similar processes. In addition, this dissertation provides implementation recommendations for a viable framework for employee wellness at Langara College. 

The study is conducted through qualitative action research and has two research questions. The primary question is: What are the components of an employee wellness framework in the context of a post-secondary institution? The secondary question is: How can Langara College design and implement a viable framework for employee wellness that builds on their current initiatives? 

Through semi-structured interviews, data was collected from the Langara Employee Wellness Promotion Committee. In addition, data was collected through the review of internal college documents, intranet sites, and the college website. An external literature review was also conducted to inform the study’s recommendations. The findings of the study revealed that there is not one singular framework for implementing employee wellness in post-secondary institutions; frameworks must be designed to meet the unique needs of each institution and its stakeholders. This aligns with the current knowledge that was revealed while conducting the external literature review. There were, however, many common themes and best practices identified that can guide the creation and implementation of an employee wellness framework, these were included in the framework that is presented in this dissertation and directly answer the research questions that were explored. 

Furthermore, the presented employee wellness framework is research-informed and transferable to any post-secondary institution. The Langara College recommendations for implementation can also inform the approaches of other institutions. The dissertation also highlights potential areas for future research, including the Okanagan Charter and the Health Promoting Universities frameworks, the design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative measurement tools, the financial impact of holistic wellness programming, and how multi-organizational collaboration could be implemented when designing employee wellness frameworks and associated programming. 

In conclusion, this study advances our understanding of the design and delivery of post- secondary employee wellness frameworks, offering both theoretical contributions and practical insights. The implications of this research extend to post-secondary institutions worldwide, providing a foundation for future exploration in designing and delivering employee wellness.