Winston Salem WellnessWinston Salem Wellness – Winston Salem Health Promotion

Organizing an active Workplace Wellness Program Committee provides opportunities for both senior staff and employee participation in the program.  The Committee ought to be a team of workers and managers who formally meet to plan activities to encourage healthier employee lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Worksite Wellness Program Committee:

• Evaluating needs & interests
• Brainstorming program ideas
• Beginning activities
• Implementing communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-workers
• Serving as champions of the Corporate Health Promotion Programs
• Assisting with evaluation  

Your Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee should be representative of all echelons of the business.  Consider all sections of the workforce – multiple sites, shift staff members, diversity (race, gender, ethnicity), and departments.   It’s also valuable to consider who will chair or co-chair the Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a Workplace Health Promotion Program manager or occupational health professional, even on a part-time or contractual basis.  Click here for more information on the benefits of a health professional.  

Depending on your employer size and resources, if you already have a employer Safety Committee you may want to think about making it the Safety & Employee Wellness Program Committee.  You have the potential to request volunteers or invite employees to take part.  

The number of Worksite Wellness Program Committee members depends on the size of your employer; however, you need a sufficient number of members to get the work done and yet not too many to keep it manageable, usually at least 4 members and maximum of 12 to 15 members.  It’s valuable to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those employees already practicing 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 (HR) professional(s),
• Employee benefits representative or someone from finance,
• Your Employee Assistance Program(EAP) provider (if applicable), Click here for more information on EAPs
• Occupational health employee (if applicable).

Establish a strong Workplace Wellness Program Committee!  The Workplace Wellness Program Committee should meet regularly with a planned agenda and action items.  Effective Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and objectives and goals.  Members need to believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is significant, benefits the organization and co-workers, and they are appreciated for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other companies have implemented.