The ethics of workplace health promotion

Kuhn E, Mueller S, Heidbrink L, Buyx A (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Public Health Ethics Oxford University Press

Book Volume: 13

Pages Range: 234-246

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1093/phe/phaa007

Abstract

Companies increasingly offer their employees the opportunity to participate in voluntary Workplace Health Promotion programmes. Although such programmes have come into focus through national and regional regulation throughout much of the Western world, their ethical implications remain largely unexamined. This article maps the territory of the ethical issues that have arisen in relation to voluntary health promotion in the workplace against the background of asymmetric relationships between employers and employees. It addresses questions of autonomy and voluntariness, discrimination and distributive justice, as well as privacy and responsibility. Following this analysis, we highlight the inadequacy of currently established ethical frameworks to sufficiently cover all aspects of workplace health promotion. Thus, we recommend the consideration of principles from all such frameworks in combination, in a joint reflection of an Ethics of Workplace Health Promotion.

Involved external institutions

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel DE Germany (DE) Technische Universität München (TUM) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kuhn, E., Mueller, S., Heidbrink, L., & Buyx, A. (2020). The ethics of workplace health promotion. Public Health Ethics, 13(3), 234-246. https://doi.org/10.1093/phe/phaa007

MLA:

Kuhn, Eva, et al. "The ethics of workplace health promotion." Public Health Ethics 13.3 (2020): 234-246.

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