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Workplace Health in America Survey

Glossary of Terms

Key terms, concepts, and definitions used in the Workplace Health in America Survey help to provide 

clarity and a better understanding of the questions for respondents. 

Culture of health: A work environment where employee health and safety is valued, supported,

and promoted through workplace health programs, policies, benefits, and environmental 

supports.

Disease or risk management information or programs: Programs offered for employees who 

already have a particular disease or health condition, and can include specific information, 

education and/or services to better manage the condition. These programs may be offered to 

employees through a health plan, a third-party vendor, or directly by the employer. 

Employee Assistance Program: A benefit program or set of services offering assistance to 

employees, their family members, and employers for workplace and personal problems.

Engineering or administrative controls: Engineering controls protect workers by removing 

hazardous conditions or by placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Administrative 

controls are designed to protect workers through work practices and management policies (e.g., 

scheduled breaks).

Environmental supports: Elements of the physical workplace such as facilities and settings 

where employees work, as well as access and opportunities for health promotion that are 

provided by the surrounding community where employees live.

Ergonomic hazards: Job equipment, job design, and work practices that may lead to stress, 

injuries, and disorders that are associated with the overuse of muscles, bad posture, and 

repeated tasks.

Health education programs: Any educational opportunity that seeks to improve knowledge, 

skills, and/or change behaviors in ways that promote employee health or prevent disease using 

any of a variety of methods including print or online materials, contests, classes ,and/or other 

activities. 

Health risk assessment (HRA): An assessment tool used to evaluate an individual’s health. An 

HRA could include a health survey or questionnaire; physical examination; or laboratory tests 

resulting in a profile of individual health risks often with accompanying advice or strategies to 

reduce the risks. 

Health screenings: Tests or examinations to help detect health problems to get employees 

referred to a health professional for proper treatment.
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Incentives: Rewards designed to influence the behavior of an individual or group. Incentives 

may be awarded by employee participation in an activity and/or on achieving a health standard 

such as sustaining cholesterol levels or blood pressure within a target range. These rewards can 

be monetary (e.g., cash, gift cards, health insurance premium discounts) or non-monetary (e.g., 

recognition, merchandise). 

Lifestyle self-management program: Education, counseling, or other support provided to help 

individuals develop skills (e.g., decision making, self-monitoring) to improve their quality of life 

with one or more chronic conditions.

Policy: Formal or informal written statement designed to promote employee health.

Presenteeism: The measurable extent to which health symptoms, conditions, and diseases 

adversely affect the work productivity of an employee who chooses to remain at work.

Program evaluation: The systematic investigation of the quality, worth, and importance of a 

health promotion program or program component.

Program implementation: The process used to put selected health promotion programs, 

policies, practices, and environmental supports into place and make them available to 

employees.

Reasonable accommodations: Adjustments or modifications made to enable employees with 

physical or mental impairments to perform work tasks more easily.

Total worker health: Policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from workrelated safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to 

advance worker well-being. 

Well-being: A broad concept of an employee’s overall health and satisfaction with life that 

includes physical and mental health, and potentially social, intellectual, financial, or other 

quality of life issues. 

Worksite: A building, unique location, or business unit within the organization where work 

occurs, or that serves as the primary work address for field-based or telecommuting employees. 

A worksite can include a group of buildings as long as all the buildings are in close proximity 

(walking distance) and defined as part of the organization. 

Worksite health promotion and wellness program: Any educational materials, activities, 

classes, health screenings, services, environmental supports, or policies that encourage 

employees to be healthy.