Implementation of Employee Wellness Programmes within the SMEs in Johannesburg

Abstract

This research study gained momentum following the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges experienced by most firms and their employees. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of implementing employee wellness services within the SMEs looking at various factors that influence the adoption of such services. The assessment results were then used to assess whether such recommendations would make business sense by developing a business proposal. The research drew on a literature review to build the research questions and hypothesis. Literature review was key to this study as it looked at the feasibility of the employee wellness programmeme and its foundation. The literature also identified gaps and recommendations from previous research done in the employee wellness space and SMEs in general.

Following a quantitative approach with a survey questionnaire design method, the study was divided into two groups to examine various factors and testing quantitative variables for firms with wellness services and firms without wellness service. An average Cronbach alpha of .891 was achieved which emphasises the reliability of data. Although the research was conducted during the national lockdown level-3 period which had strict regulations, the research results were achieved from the limited sample size.

The research found that there is indeed an intervention required to successfully implement wellness services within the SMEs. Although cost remained the biggest challenge in the SME space, most SMEs believed that such services would benefit their firms and employees at large. The research concludes by emphasising that service providers for employee wellness need to demonstrate value for money and detailed benefits when proposing a new offering.