Employee Wellness Plans : Employee Wellness Program Committee

Wellness committees are significant in that they foster a sense of ownership in the program, and facilitate various tasks involved in wellness programming at the worksite. The Company Wellness Program Committee ought to be composed of a cross-section of staff members representing various occupations, levels, and subgroups with the company.

A common mistake is filling the Company Health Promotion Program Committee with the most health/fitness-conscious people in the employer. Don’t rely solely on volunteers to fill a Company Health Promotion Program Committee. Make sure that your Company Health Promotion Program Committee members have enough power in the employer to run an effective wellness program.

The Worksite Wellness Program Committee is made up of employees from the workplace. It oversees the wellness program and helps carry it out. The Worksite Wellness Program Committee must meet about once a month to review the previous month’s activities and plan future ones. When the program is just starting, the Worksite Wellness Program Committee may meet on a weekly basis until things get going.

Committee participants do not carry out medical procedures, counsel clients, or handle confidential health information. Wellness professionals perform these tasks.

In general, the Company Wellness Program Committee’s duties fall into three areas: planning, promoting, and helping to run programs.

Creating the programs can include:

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

Promoting the program can include:
• Recruiting workers to take part in assessment 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 employees

The size of the Workplace 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 meetings to recruit potential participants. Explain the purpose of the Employee Health Promotion Program Committee, duties and responsibilities, and the time commitment.

Recognize your Company Health Promotion Program Committee volunteers. Allow them to participate in programs at a reduced cost. Hold appreciation breakfasts/lunches/dinners. Print names of Company Health Promotion Program Committee participants on organization 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 workers   2 to 4
• 300 to 1,000 workers   4 to 6
• 1,000 employees or more   6 to 12