WOW member and incoming director co-edits cutting-edge book providing latest insights into perspectives on organisational wellbeing.

Organisational wellbeing is a relatively new buzz word in the fields of employment relations and workplace wellbeing, but what does it actually mean? Organisational wellbeing relates to an organisation’s ability to promote and maintain the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of workers at all levels and for every job.

We’ve all had that one bad workplace and know the negative impact this can have on our working and personal lives, such as stress, burnout and high turnover.

Organisational wellbeing is a key factor in determining an organisation’s long-term effectiveness.

WOW member Professor Paula Brough has co-edited The SAGE Handbook of Organizational Wellbeing (with Tony Wall University of Chester and Cary Cooper, Manchester Business School) which explores new theories and cases of organisational wellbeing and highlights global wellbeing issues and exploring new contexts.

‘Topics covered include digital working and social media, LGBTQIA+ identifications and work, suicide at work, refugee workers, and mental health. A multi- and inter-disciplinary work, we aimed to embrace ideas and empirical work from a range of fields including psychology, business and management, economics, and science’ says Professor Brough.

Professor Paula Brough

This handbook draws together current knowledge whilst also outlining emerging issues and directions, making this an invaluable resource for students and researchers spanning a wide array of disciplines.

Several WOW academic and adjunct members contributed to this work:

  • Chapter 5: Emotions and Wellbeing at Work: A Multilevel Perspective – Ashlea C. Troth, Alannah Rafferty, & Peter J. Jordan
  • Chapter 24: National approaches to wellbeing interventions: The UK Management Standards as an example – Karina Nielsen, Carolyn Axtell, & Siobhan Taylor

This is a hugely comprehensive handbook which encompasses every aspect of organisational wellbeing, indeed extending well beyond the workplace to family, friends and society. Crucial topics such as Black Lives Matter and living with and after Covid-19 have rightly found their way into its pages. It does not shy away from the difficult topics and is a compelling read which encourages an international audience to reflect on the future nature of work and the workplace.

Although only recently published, this book has received positive reviews from global experts in the field:

People are the heart of any world-class organisation and they need to be tip-top mentally, as well as physically.  This truly comprehensive SAGE Handbook from global scholars for global leaders is the cornerstone to insure superior organisational wellbeing. – Professor Dame Carol Black, Chair, Centre for Ageing Better

In these most challenging of economic headwinds, leaders who genuinely care about the wellbeing of their people will see better organisational outcomes. Caring about wellbeing and caring about the health of a business are inextricably linked. The human case is clear, the economic imperative is clear and readers of this book will be left in no doubt that the business case is clear too. – James Campbell Quick, Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas at Arlington

The SAGE Handbook of Organizational Wellbeing by Tony Wall, Cary L. Cooper, & Paula Brough is a very timely reference coming at a time when the physical, mental and spiritual health of our people and organisations are being put under stress more than ever. The book covers topics that transcends national boundaries, and covers the past, present and future directions and developments. I would not hesitate to recommend this to academics, students and leaders who have an interested in this area. -Oi Ling Siu, Professor of Applied Psychology, Lingnan University

Congratulations to Paula and her co-authors on this significant achievement! The book is available for purchase in hard cover or electronic version.