Fostering a Healthier Workplace: Managerial Training and Employee Awareness

Last registered on July 28, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Fostering a Healthier Workplace: Managerial Training and Employee Awareness
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0011456
Initial registration date
July 22, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 28, 2023, 10:58 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Yuan Pei
Affiliation
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2023-03-01
End date
2025-05-01
Keywords
Behavior, Firms & Productivity, Health
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, are prevalent in the workplace and can significantly affect both employees' well-being and overall productivity. This study aims to investigate the effects of enhancing managerial capital and promoting employees' common knowledge in creating a healthier and more productive work environment.

I run a field experiment involving 720 managers and 12,000 manufacturing workers across 180 departments in an automobile company. The departments are divided into two treatment groups and one control group. In both treatment groups, managers receive a specialized training program focused on mental health literacy and emotion management when dealing with subordinates. Additionally, half of the treated managers hold meetings with their subordinates to promote awareness of the training and alleviate concerns about potential biases against mental health issues.

The study assesses the impact of these interventions on employees’ perceptions, behaviors, job performance, and mental health outcomes. The findings can provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve mental health in the workplace and enhance overall labor productivity.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Pei, Yuan. 2023. "Fostering a Healthier Workplace: Managerial Training and Employee Awareness." AEA RCT Registry. July 28. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.11456-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2023-07-01
Intervention End Date
2023-09-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
The quantity and quality of interactions between managers and employees
Employees' perceptions of the workplace and their help-seeking behaviors
Employee well-being (burnout, mental health, job satisfaction)
Turnover and job performance (productivity, attendance, etc.)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
I run a field experiment involving 720 managers and 12,000 manufacturing workers across 180 departments in an automobile company. The departments are divided into two treatment groups and one control group. In both treatment groups, managers receive a specialized training program focused on mental health literacy and emotion management when dealing with subordinates. Additionally, half of the treated managers hold meetings with their subordinates to promote awareness of the training and alleviate concerns about potential biases against mental health issues.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
We employ a computer-based randomization process to allocate employees into treatment or control groups. This method involves a stratified approach, wherein we consider department-level factors such as turnover rate, number of employees, and managers' performance.
Randomization Unit
Department
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
180 departments
Sample size: planned number of observations
180 departments and 12,000 employees
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
60 departments in each treatment arm
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Harvard IRB
IRB Approval Date
2023-06-09
IRB Approval Number
221205
Analysis Plan