Employer Wellness

Securing an active Corporate Wellness Program Committee provides opportunities for both upper management and employee involvement in the program.  The Committee should be a team of workers and managers who formally meet to plan activities to promote healthier employee lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Company Wellness Program Committee:

• Reviewing needs & interests
• Brainstorming program ideas
• Planning activities
• Implementing communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-employees
• Serving as champions of the Company Wellness Programs
• Assisting with assessment  

Your Company Wellness Program Committee must be representative of all levels of the corporation.  Consider all facets of the workforce – multiple sites, shift workers, diversity (race, gender, ethnicity), and departments.   It’s also significant to consider who will chair or co-chair the Company Wellness Program Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a Company Wellness Program manager or occupational health consultant, even on a part-time or contractual basis.  Click here for more information on the advantages of a health consultant.  

Depending on your company size and resources, if you already have a company Safety Committee you might want to consider making it the Safety & Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee.  You are able to request volunteers or invite employees to take part.  

The number of Company Wellness Program Committee members is dependent upon the size of your organization; 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 valuable to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those workers already living healthy lifestyles.  

Depending on your worksite, consider representatives from the following areas:

• Employee representatives from a cross section of different departments,
• Senior Leadership
• Health and safety consultant(s),
• Human Resources (HR) professional(s),
• Employee benefits representative or someone from finance,
• Your EAP provider (if applicable), Click here for more information on EAPs
• Occupational health employee (if applicable).

Establish a strong Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee!  The Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee ought to meet on a regular basis with a planned agenda and action items.  Effective Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and objectives.  Members must believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is valuable, benefits the organization and co-workers, and they are recognized for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other businesses have implemented.