Organizing an active Worksite Wellness Program Committee supports opportunities for both senior staff and employee participation in the program. The Committee ought to be a team of staff members and managers who formally meet to plan activities to reward healthier employee lifestyles.
Typical Functions of a Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee:
• Analyzing needs & interests
• Coming up with program ideas
• Developing activities
• Creating communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-staff members
• Serving as champions of the Workplace Wellness Programs
• Assisting with evaluation
Your Corporate Wellness Program Committee should be representative of all echelons of the organization. Consider all facets of the workforce – multiple sites, shift employees, diversity (race, gender, ethnicity), and departments. It’s also important to consider who will chair or co-chair the Corporate Wellness Program Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a Corporate Wellness Program manager or occupational health consultant, even on a part-time or contractual basis. Click here for more information on the benefits of a health consultant.
Depending on your organization size and resources, if you already have a organization Safety Committee you might want to consider making it the Safety & Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee. You have the potential to request volunteers or invite employees to take part.
The number of Corporate Wellness Program Committee members depends on the size of your company; however, you need sufficient members to get the work done and yet not too many to keep it manageable, usually a minimum of 4 members and maximum of 12 to 15 members. It’s significant to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those staff members already living healthy lifestyles.
Depending on your worksite, consider representatives from the following areas:
• Employee representatives from a cross section of different departments,
• Upper Management
• Health and safety professional(s),
• Human resources consultant(s),
• Employee benefits representative or someone from finance,
• Your Employee Assistance Program provider (if applicable), Click here for more information on EAPs
• Occupational health employee (if applicable).
Establish an effective Workplace Wellness Program Committee! The Workplace Wellness Program Committee should meet on a regular basis with a planned agenda and action items. Effective Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and objectives and goals. Members must believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is important, benefits the organization and co-employees, and they are recognized for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other organizations have implemented.
