Health and Wellness Leads : Employee Wellness Program: Form a Employee Wellness Program Committee  

Creating an active Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee supports opportunities for both upper management and employee participation in the program.  The Committee must be a team of staff members and managers who formally meet to plan activities to reward healthier employee lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee:

• Analyzing needs & interests
• Brainstorming program ideas
• Beginning activities
• Developing communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-staff members
• Serving as champions of the Company Health Promotion Programs
• Assisting with evaluation  

Your Corporate Health Promotion Program Committee ought to be representative of all levels of the organization.  Consider all areas 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 Health Promotion Program Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a Corporate Health Promotion Program manager or occupational health professional, even on a part-time or contractual basis.  Click here for more information on the advantages of a health professional.  

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

The number of Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee members is dependent upon the size of your corporation; 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 staff members already living healthy lifestyles.  

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

• Employee representatives from a cross section of different departments,
• Senior Management
• Health and safety professional(s),
• Human resources 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 Employee Health Promotion Program Committee!  The Employee Health Promotion 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.  Participants need to believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is significant, 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 corporations have implemented.