Employee Perceptions of an Established Health and Wellness Coaching Program to Improve Behavior.

OBJECTIVE:There is limited evidence, particularly qualitative analysis, of health and wellness interventions within the South African workplace. The purpose of this study is to explore whether health and wellness coaching when offered as part of an employee wellness program has potential for developing lifestyle change in a South African workplace. METHODS:There were four, 45-minute focus group discussions, where employees discussed their experiences of the workplace health and wellness intervention program. RESULTS:Main categories identified from the coding of the transcripts were purpose of the health and wellness coaching program, as well as employees' program experience and improvement to the program. Common barriers to engagement, positive and negative experiences, and suggested improvements were defined by the employees. CONCLUSIONS:The study highlighted the need of understanding employee perceptions in the development and implementation of a workplace health and wellness program.