Employee Wellness Plans : Establish a Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee

A critical first step in organizing your company’s wellness program is the formation of a Employee Wellness Program Committee. The focus of the Employee Wellness Program Committee is to plan, encourage, and enable the program. The Employee Wellness Program Committee establishes continuity, motivation, and broad ownership of the program as well as supports an excellent vehicle for communication.

So who should be on the Corporate Health Promotion Program Committee? Consider appointing the following people/departments to your Corporate Health Promotion Program Committee:

• Senior Leadership within your company
• Union representatives
• Human resources department
• Employee Assistance Program(EAP)
• Information technology
• Communications
• Health and safety department
• staff members interested in health & wellness

Building a thriving Company Health Promotion Program requires employee time as well as money. Some larger organizations may spend 20 hours per week for three to six months preparing all the steps prior to kicking off a Company Health Promotion Program.

Anywhere from 4 to 10 people meeting monthly equals a Corporate Wellness Program Committee. A mission statement for the Corporate Wellness Program Committee should be developed by the second meeting. This way, everyone knows what the Corporate Wellness Program Committee is working toward.

Once a wellness program has been established, the committee’s size and meeting schedule may differ. Still, no fewer than 4 members ought to meet at least quarterly so the group – and the wellness program – does not fade away.