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Management Communication Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 4, 543-592 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0893318904273691
© 2005 SAGE Publications

Communicating Social Health

Perceptions of Wellness at Work

Angele Farrell

San Diego State University

Patricia Geist-Martin

San Diego State University

An estimated 78% of U.S. employees say that work is their biggest source of stress. The effects of stress often result in employees taking sick days and rising workers compensation claims. Consequently, companies are developing wellness campaigns to address the problems arising from stress. Physical and mental health predominate in these programs with little attention paid to employees’ social health—the quality of their network of professional and personal relationships. This research examines employees’ perceptions of social health in one organization that has committed itself to workplace wellness. The results reveal three patterns or processes of social health: building camaraderie with peers, communing with superiors, and reconnecting with family. All processes of social health at work are negotiated through communication within organizational and personal communities. A Model of Working Well is offered as a foundation for futureresearchonorganizationalhealthideologiesandindividualhealthidentities.

Key Words: stress • health • corporate wellness programs • organizational communication


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[Abstract] [PDF]