Employer Wellness

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

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

The Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee is made up of workers from the worksite. It oversees the wellness program and helps carry it out. The Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee ought to meet about once a month to review the previous month’s activities and plan future ones. When the program is just starting, the Worksite Health Promotion 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 Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee’s duties fall into three areas: planning, promoting, and helping to run programs.

Developing the programs can include:

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

Promoting the program can include:
• Recruiting workers to take part in screening and health improvement programs
• Encouraging workers 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 success of the professional employee
• Acting as wellness mentors to fellow staff members

The size of the Company Health Promotion Program Committee will be dependent on the size of the employer. Pick members by asking day management to nominate or appoint workers.

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

Recognize your Corporate Wellness Program Committee volunteers. Allow them to take part in programs at a reduced cost. Hold appreciation breakfasts/lunches/dinners. Print names of Corporate Wellness Program Committee members on company 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. Organize awards certificates for participants.

The following can be used as a guide for Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee size:

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