Abstract
Line management plays a significant role in influencing the employee’s experience of the workplace.
Managers’ behaviour towards employee wellbeing is critical, as it manifests in factors such as employee
performance, productivity, absenteeism, job satisfaction, attrition, motivation, engagement and morale
in the workplace. The study purposes to explore the extent in which line manager practices (leadership
styles) influence employee wellbeing on an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual level. The insights
from the study will advance the cause of workplace wellbeing at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical
levels. In addition, best practices which improve, and guide line management practices will be
illuminated to support the learning and development of line management. Exploratory qualitative
research design was followed. Purposive sampling was adopted to select and identify the ten research
participants. The primary data was collected through the semi-structured interviews, and the secondary
data was collected through the documentation in the form of policies and research publications. The
data were analysed through the content and thematic analysis methods. Based on the findings, the
following management practices were identified as key in promoting employee wellbeing:
communication and information sharing, ethical conduct and living the values, development of people,
empowerment, building healthy relationships, supportive and caring attitude, and recognition. Effective
management behaviour and practices which promote and enable employee wellbeing should be
assessed through the performance systems, rewarded and recognised through various motivating
mechanisms. The research findings corroborates the literature with an emphasis on the importance of
management styles and practices in promoting wellbeing.