ABSTRACT
The link between workplace empowerment and employee health and wellbeing has gained considerable attention over the last few decades as organizations recognize the benefits of supporting employees' ability to accomplish their work in a meaningful way and, thus, contribute to organizational effectiveness. This chapter focuses in particular on the role of workplace empowerment in fostering employee health and wellbeing. It summarizes research linking structural and psychological empowerment to both positive and negative workplace wellbeing and describe evidence-based empowerment strategies that can be used by leaders to ensure optimal workplace health. The chapter discusses the evidence linking workplace empowerment to specific health outcomes and to broader aspects of positive workplace wellbeing (work engagement organizational commitment, job and career satisfaction and turnover intentions) and negative workplace wellbeing (job stress, job strain and burnout). The strong relationship between empowerment and wellbeing outcomes found in studies reviewed in the chapter suggests that managers can employ structural empowerment strategies to improve employee health and wellbeing.
