The influence of lifestyle habits on work placement.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to shed more light on the phenomena related to lifestyle habits and its incorporation into hiring and granting promotions practice. The research is descriptive in nature, and the findings provide an insight into the topic of lifestyle habits and how it impacts work placement in organisations The research employed a quantitative methodology via the use of a questionnaire that was circulated within a hardware company based in Durban, South Africa; and a simple random probability sampling strategy was employed to ensure data collected was reflective of the entire company, from senior management right to blue collar employees. Based on the key findings, lifestyle habits do play a role in where positions are allocated and to specific work placement. Work placement in higher positions tend to have more positive lifestyle habits and vice versa. The implications of this research for theory and practise are that having intervention and incentive programmes in place fosters the development of good habits within the workplace. As a result, this will decrease the risk of workers developing non-communicable and chronic lifestyle diseases; as well as higher than usual mortality rates by promoting seven healthy lifestyle behaviours that were investigated as part of this study. Good lifestyle habits can be integrated into work placement through developing lifestyle habits learning objectives, establishing teaching and learning activities, and promoting learning outcomes such as self control and motivation. Self control is the most positive outcome that influences work placement as it promotes good habits over bad habits. Incentives are one of the lifestyle habits objectives that reinforces self control, prevents demotivation and ensures the development of good lifestyle habits in the workplace; which in turn ultimately leads to effective and efficient work placement practises.