Health And Wellness In The WorkplaceHealth And Wellness In The Workplace

Wellness committees are valuable in that they establish a sense of ownership in the program, and facilitate various tasks involved in wellness programming at the worksite. The Company Health Promotion Program Committee must be composed of a cross-section of staff members representing various occupations, levels, and subgroups with the corporation.

A common mistake is filling the Company Health Promotion Program Committee with the most health/fitness-conscious people in the business. Don’t rely solely on volunteers to fill a Company Health Promotion Program Committee. Make sure that your Company Health Promotion Program Committee participants have enough power in the business to run an effective wellness program.

The Employee Wellness Program Committee is made up of workers from the worksite. It oversees the wellness program and helps carry it out. The Employee Wellness Program Committee must meet about once a month to review the previous month’s activities and plan future ones. When the program is just starting, the Employee Wellness Program Committee may meet on a weekly basis until things get going.

Committee participants do not carry out medical care procedures, counsel clients, or handle confidential health information. Wellness professionals perform these tasks.

In general, the Employee Health Promotion Program Committee’s duties fall into three areas: planning, promoting, and assisting to run programs.

Beginning the programs can include:

• Finding space for activities
• Creating and organizing workplace-wide programs such as contests
• Evaluating reports prepared by the program employee and making recommendations

Promoting the program can include:
• Recruiting staff members to take part in assessment and health improvement programs
• Encouraging employees to take part in follow-up counseling
• Organizing promotional strategies using newsletters, signs, bulletin boards, computers, and other media available within the workplace

Helping to run the program can include:
• Setting up equipment for various activities
• Helping to conduct workplace-wide activities
• Monitoring all activities and reviewing the effectiveness of the professional employee
• Acting as wellness mentors to fellow workers

The size of the Corporate Health Promotion Program Committee will be dependent on the size of the business. Pick members by asking day management to nominate or appoint staff members.

Make an announcement through flyers, memos, and meetings to recruit potential members. Explain the purpose of the Employee Health Promotion Program Committee, duties and responsibilities, and the time commitment.

Recognize your Employee Wellness Program Committee volunteers. Allow them to take part in programs at a reduced expense. Have appreciation breakfasts/lunches/dinners. Print names of Employee Wellness Program Committee participants on corporation communications about the wellness program.

Purchase special T-shirts, caps, and buttons for them. Write letters to supervisors saying that you appreciate the member’s service. Create awards certificates for participants.

The following can be used as a guide for Workplace Wellness Program Committee size:

• Less than 300 workers   2 to 4
• 300 to 1,000 employees   4 to 6
• 1,000 workers or more   6 to 12