Employment and working conditions is one of the Social Determinants of Health and can influence individual and family health. Alberta Ballet can not only improve employment for its own employees, but can have a positive influence on other Alberta workers through the delivery of programming and encouraging participation in the arts.

Work is known to damage health when it is characterized by high demand, little control over tasks, or by high effort with little reward. Social isolation, job insecurity, organizational injustice and shift work are each factors that significantly impact employee health and wellbeing. 

The arts can improve the wellbeing of many workers in some of the most difficult jobs. For instance, when hospice workers engage with the arts, they report improved wellbeing, creativity and communication, and these outcomes help to lessen work-related stress.

When caregivers connect with music and movement, they show an increased capacity for empathy, and this in turn lowers stress, reduces burnout, and heightens resilience. Among healthcare workers, creative art classes enhance confidence, wellbeing, identity and self-care. A Canadian study focused on emergency service workers found that staff who attend cultural events outside of work had improved physical health. Concerts, ballet, theatre and museums were found to be a means of coping with stress among this group. 

Creative endeavours outside of work have repeatedly shown to help employees cope with at-work stressors. In adults, the benefits appear to be in both general well-being and occupational well-being in the workplace. Music has been found to improve mood and reduce stress while working, as well as improving levels of concentration, efficiency, enthusiasm and ordered working.

The arts are also a source of job opportunities for many, providing support for social mobility and socioeconomic stability. These opportunities benefit both individuals and communities. Arts companies must also adhere to the social determinant model to ensure staff are able to enjoy quality work for both artists and arts administrators.