Employer Wellness

Establishing an active Wellness Committee provides opportunities for both management and worker involvement in the program.  The Committee should be a team of staff members and managers who formally meet to plan activities to promote healthier worker lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Wellness Committee –

• Reviewing needs and interests

• Brainstorming program ideas

• Planning activities

• Developing communication plans

• Promoting programs to colleagues

• Serving as champions of the Wellness Programs

• Assisting with evaluation  

Your Wellness Committee should be representative of all levels of the business.  Consider all areas of the workforce – multiple sites, shift staff members, diversity (race, gender, ethnicity), and departments.  

It’s also important to consider who’ll chair or co-chair the Wellness Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a wellness manager or occupational health specialist, even on a part-time or contractual basis.  Click here for additional information on the advantages of a health specialist.  

Depending on your corporation size and resources, if you already have a corporation Safety Committee you may want to consider making it the Safety and Wellness Committee.  You can request volunteers or invite employees to participate.  

The number of Wellness Committee members depends on the size of your company; nonetheless, you need enough members to get the work done and yet not too many to keep it manageable, ordinarily a minimum of 4 members and maximum of 12 to 15 members.  

It’s important to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those staff members already practicing healthful lifestyles.  

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

• Staff Member representatives from a cross section of different departments,

• Management/leadership,

• Health and safety professional(s),

• Human resources  professional(s),

• Benefits staff or someone from finance,

• Your staff member assistance program (EAP) provider (if applicable), Click here for more information on EAPs

• Medical or occupational health staff (if applicable).

Establish an effective Wellness Committee!  the Wellness Committee ought to meet regularly with a planned agenda and action items.  Successful Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and goals.  

Members need to believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is important, benefits the organization and peers, and they are recognized for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other corporations have implemented.