Establishing a Worksite Wellness Program Committee
A representative Worksite Wellness Program Committee is a cornerstone of a successful Worksite Wellness Program, regardless of the size of the business.
Membership of your Worksite Wellness Program Committee
Aim for a committee of a manageable size (no more than 15 members, depending on your business’s size). Your Worksite Wellness Program Committee should represent all employee groups (e.g., full-time and part-time workers, managers and front-line staff, salary and hourly workers, union representation, HR, marketing or communications, legal, and occupational health/safety).
Here are some additional considerations:
• Worksite Wellness Program Committee members can be selected by leadership or can be selected from among volunteers.
• Determine in advance how long Worksite Wellness Program Committee members will support and how new members will be selected. Balance the need for continuity with the need to bring fresh ideas and energy to your business’s Worksite Wellness Program.
• It’s not necessary, or even desirable, to have your healthiest workers on the Worksite Wellness Program Committee. Ideal Worksite Wellness Program Committee members are those who best can represent their peers, motivate others and support the implementation of the Worksite Wellness Program.
• Consider providing an incentive or recognition to Worksite Wellness Program Committee members. It legitimizes their positions and encourages participation. Some businesss that have implemented stipends have generated enough worker interest that the selection of Worksite Wellness Program Committee membership becomes a competitive process. The Worksite Wellness Program Committee responsibilities become a formal part of the member’s job accountabilities.
Role of your Worksite Wellness Program Committee
In some businesss the Worksite Wellness Program Committee is responsible for the implementation of the Worksite Wellness Program. In other businesss, the Worksite Wellness Program Committee plays an advisory role. In either case, the group members can be asked to:
• Attend regular meetings of the Worksite Wellness Program Committee.
• Help establish a vision and name for the business’s Worksite Wellness Program.
• Represent their peers by sharing ideas, needs, concerns and feedback from their work areas and colleagues about proposed Worksite Wellness Program Strategies, policies, and programs.
• Make available feedback on the possible barriers to proposed Worksite Wellness Program Strategies and offer suggestions for addressing those barriers (e.g., how does a proposed policy fit with the schedules of workers?).
• Suggest effective Worksite Wellness Program communication Strategies and solutions to challenges. For example, what is the best way to communicate with workers who work the third shift? How will workers react to a proposed message from upper management?
• Be a voice of support for a culture of wellness, carrying the message from the Worksite Wellness Program Committee to their work areas and colleagues.
Functioning of your Worksite Wellness Program Committee
Meet. Schedule regular Worksite Wellness Program Committee meetings on paid work time. Your Worksite Wellness Program Committee may want to meet very often at first, then slightly less frequently as your health improvement strategy is more established. If your Worksite Wellness Program Committee is new, it might be useful to ask members to provide information about themselves and their interests.
Communicate. Set up regular channels of communication with Worksite Wellness Program Committee members so they are up to date and engaged. An email list is frequently the easiest way to do this. Encourage communication to flow both ways: from Worksite Wellness Program coordinator to members and from members to coordinator.
Check-in. At least once a year, determine how effectively the Worksite Wellness Program Committee is functioning. Is the Worksite Wellness Program Committee serving its original purpose? Ask committee members for their feedback. Do they feel like their work is making a difference? Do they feel like their input is valued and taken into account when planning and implementing initiatives? Do they understand their expected Worksite Wellness Program roles and responsibilities? Are there members who want to rotate off of the committee? How will new members be selected?