Promoting employee well-being and commitment in communication industries

Bibliographic Data

ID21696009
AuthorsNicholas Eng (0000-0002-3940-1464, The University of Georgia Department of Advertising and Public Relations), Ruoyu Sun (0000-0002-5395-513X, The University of Georgia Department of Advertising and Public Relations), Juan Meng (0000-0003-0143-9819, The University of Georgia Department of Advertising and Public Relations), Marlene S Neill (0000-0001-7267-1741, Public Relations and New Media, Baylor University Department of Journalism)
Year2025
Volume29
Issue3
Pages304-323
Publication date2025-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Communication Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1363-254X • E-ISSN: 1478-0852
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/jcom-02-2024-0037
OpenAlexW4400414001
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited37

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the well-being initiatives and programs offered to full-time communication employees and identifies antecedents of employee subjective well-being and commitment in the workplace (e.g. organizational attention to mental health in the workplace and perceived organizational support, POS). Design/methodology/approach Guided by organizational support theory (OST), we conducted an online survey with 262 full-time communication professionals. Findings The data show that a variety of well-being initiatives and programs (e.g. mental health assistance programs and flexible working hours) are offered to communication employees, who receive this information from various sources (e.g. emails and announcements at employee meetings). Additionally, the number of well-being initiatives also positively predicted organizational attitudes and attention to mental health in the workplace. Supporting OST, attitudes and attention to mental health in the workplace positively predicted POS, which subsequently predicted subjective well-being and organizational commitment. Research limitations/implications The study offers practical implications around the communication professionals’ experience in employee well-being and culture. Perspectives from internal communication teams will help organizations leverage their efficiency in creating a supportive work culture around mental well-being and contribute to the understanding of well-being in communication industries. Theoretically, we extended the range of OST, by testing the theory in a new context of communication professionals during the pandemic. Originality/value Although communication professionals carry a critical internal communication role in actively promoting employee mental health, well-being and healthy organizational cultures, very little research has been dedicated to investigating how they handle these subjects themselves. Therefore, this study provides original value by focusing on the perceptions, knowledge and action taken by communication professionals when responding to organizations’ well-being programs/initiatives offerings during the peak of COVID-19 and the factors that influence communication professionals’ subjective well-being

Business · Business administration · Employee engagement · Organizational commitment · Political science · Public relations · Emotional Intelligence and Performance · Job Satisfaction and Organizational Behavior · Workaholism, burnout, and well-being · Marketing

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