USC Public Health: Workplace Health Promotion at Commonwealth Bank

This report analyzes the health promotion programs implemented by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, using the 'Understanding Settings' framework. It examines evidence from research, diversity within the workplace, and the evolution of the bank's health-focused approach over time. The report delves into localized determinants, including the physical and psychosocial environments, and how the bank interacts with its external surroundings. Stakeholder analysis identifies primary and secondary stakeholders, their agendas, and their understanding of health determinants. Power relations and the influence of key decision-makers are also explored. The report concludes with recommendations for further improvements to health promotion policies, emphasizing the importance of a healthy work environment, including sterile conditions, healthy eating practices, and promoting worker fitness.

USC Public Health Programs. This template is a summary of the ‘Understanding Settings’ component of the health promotion setting analysis framework outlined by Poland et al. It is vital that you read the article in full for a detailed description (including examples) of each element.
1. Understanding Settings
Area of the Poland et al Framework Evidence from research process
Diversity
- How is it different and similar to settings in other categories?
- What diversity can be expected within this setting category?
The employees of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, are privileged to have the best facilities
in the vicinity, for maintaining a healthy life. The company has registered its employees to several
hospitals in the area, so, that they can have direct or indirect access to them during medical
emergencies (1). They are also given personal assistance regarding their health from available
health professions, when needed.
The Commonwealth Bank, unlike the other banks, also arranges medical camps to
vaccinate its employees annually (2). The employee health promotion events that the Bank
arranges is considered to be an appreciable event in the field of banking, by the government of
Australia. Employees also have the benefit of having a health portal, which focuses solely on
assisting the workers of the bank on health issues (3). The workplace environment of the
Commonwealth Bank is taken as an example by many rising banks worldwide. The framework that
the bank follows for giving care to its employees has attracted many related companies to work
under such layouts.
Knowledge
- What assumptions are made about setting?
- How has role of setting changed over time?
The set up of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia has significantly changed in the last two
decades (4). The bank employs more than five times the workers it had two decades ago, it attracts
workers because of the comfortable and healthy framwork it offers to them (5). The economy of a
bank depends on the productivity of the workers. Healthier the working environment better the
productivity, these reasons are given importance by the authority of the bank. These points have
made the economy of the bank one of the highest in the industry (6).
Localised determinants
- How does the setting interact with external environments?
- How does the setting interact with other settings?
- What are the physical and built environmental determinants of health in
this setting?
- What are the psychosocial environmental determinants of health in this
setting?
The Commonwealth Bank works on the external environment also, for ensuring a properly
sterilized and sanitized exterior. Outer atmosphere is a critical determinant of the internal
environment. The contaminants which are involved in several lethal diseases can enter the office
premises and cause nuisance, to eliminate such chances, the company conducts pest control
procedures around the terrain (7).
Physical environment for health promotion: In some places within the bank, there is access of
natural air. The natural environment of the bank is not disturbed by too many constructions, this

USC Public Health Programs. This template is a summary of the ‘Understanding Settings’ component of the health promotion setting analysis framework outlined by Poland et al. It is vital that you read the article in full for a detailed description (including examples) of each element.
allows natural light and air around the premises (8).
Built up environment for promotion of health: The Commonwealth Bank of Australia for the
promotion of the health of its workers, has setup numerous health checkup on a regular basis to
ensure the worker’s health. Smoking is restricted to certain open areas, it is not allowed inside the
premises of the workplace. The washrooms and restrooms are provided with hand soaps, hand
dryers and inbuilt sanitizers of toilet seats (9).
Psychosocial environment of the bank: the term refers to the cultural and climatic factors of a
workplace. The bank maintains it psychosocial environment by planning recreational activities for
the workers at least ones in a week so that the workers do not feel monotonous about their work.
The workers are awarded with good rewards when they perform exceptionally well. They have
policies, which enables the organization to sack an employee if found to be guilty for harassing
fellow employee. The policy also does not allow anyone among the employee to discriminate and
bully any colleague. Gender discrimination, is not allowed by the management (10).
Stakeholders
- Primary and secondary stakeholders
- Agendas, access to resources
- Functions of setting for different stakeholders
- Who is absent from this setting?
- What is the meaning of health for stakeholders?
- To what degree do stakeholders understand the determinants of health in
the setting?
The primary stakeholders of the bank include all customers that they deal with officially. It also
includes the employees who are working under the bank.
The secondary stakeholders are the ones have a commercial, operational, legal or ethical
relationship with the bank.
Importance of health for the stakeholders of the bank: The stakeholders, including the costumers
and the employee should necessarily have a proper health management. The health of the
customers and the workers, can have a major impact on the economy of the bank. Higher the
productivity of the workers, better the business of the company. Health of the costumers is
important as well because the number of customers associated with the bank also is a deciding
factor for the bank’s economy (11).
Understanding of the stakeholders of the bank about the determinants of health: To establish an
understanding of the health promoting procedures created by the management, the bank plans

USC Public Health Programs. This template is a summary of the ‘Understanding Settings’ component of the health promotion setting analysis framework outlined by Poland et al. It is vital that you read the article in full for a detailed description (including examples) of each element.
events for the workers to give an insight about recent settings installed for their health promotion.
The customers are informed about the programs and the amenities that are made available for
ensure their health through tele-communication and e-mails. The management not only elaborates
about the policies but also invites them for personal conversations if the mails are not clear to
them. Such assistance ensures a high degree of understanding (12).
Power, influence and social change (sociopolitical environment)
- How are power relations formed?
- Who controls access?
- Who sets the agenda?
- Who participates in decision making?
- Who has voice?
- Who/what drives/blocks change?
- Identify stakeholders who may be supportive, resistant and neutral to
proposed changes
Power relations are the kind of relations in which a person has the power of society formation over
another person (13). The objective of such power in the field of banking for promotion of health is
to keep a check on the decision making of a person in authority regarding the wellness of the
workers by another person holding similar rank in the bank. Power relations help in evaluating the
framework of the health promotion process of its employee, it makes the framework stronger as it
involves the participation of a number of people.
The supreme power of the Commonwealth Bank is the Chief Executive officer and Managing
Director of the bank, Mr. Ian Narev. He is the person who controls the access within the bank (14).
The decision makers for ensuring proper health in most of the banks like the Commonwealth Bank
involve the personnel in the Human Resource Management committee. The committee ensures
personalized care to the workers by conducting surveys on a regular basis among the workers (15).

USC Public Health Programs. This template is a summary of the ‘Understanding Settings’ component of the health promotion setting analysis framework outlined by Poland et al. It is vital that you read the article in full for a detailed description (including examples) of each element.
2. Ideas for further improvement of health promotion policies in the Commonwealth Bank, Australia:
 Workplace should always have a health program associated with the workers engaged in the institution. The points that an institution should
compulsorily cover include having a sterile environment, that is an environment devoid of pathogenic entities like bacteria.
 Management of healthy eating practices within the workplace, by restricting eating at the place of work.
 Companies should prohibit smoking in the work premises so that the other workers do not suffer for it.
 The work place should also have proper exhaust and air filters to ensure non-polluted air at the place.
 To avoid the occurrence of communicable diseases within the premises, proper sanitization practices in the restrooms and washrooms should be
maintained on a regular basis.
 The companies should also build up gyms and play areas to promote workers’ fitness of health.

USC Public Health Programs. This template is a summary of the ‘Understanding Settings’ component of the health promotion setting analysis framework outlined by Poland et al. It is vital that you read the article in full for a detailed description (including examples) of each element.
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