A vital first step in organizing your company’s wellness program is the formation of a Corporate Wellness Program Committee. The focus of the Corporate Wellness Program Committee is to plan, reward, and enable the program. The Corporate Wellness Program Committee establishes continuity, motivation, and broad ownership of the program as well as provides an excellent vehicle for communication.
So who ought to be on the Employee Wellness Program Committee? Consider appointing the following people/departments to your Employee Wellness Program Committee:
• Senior Leadership within your company
• Union representatives
• Human Resources (HR) department
• EAP
• Information technology
• Communications
• Health and safety department
• employees interested in wellness and health
Building a successful Employee Wellness Program requires employee time as well as money. Some larger companies may spend 20 hours per week for three to six months preparing all the steps prior to initiating a Employee Wellness Program.
Anywhere from 4 to 10 people meeting monthly equals a Employee Wellness Program Committee. A mission statement for the Employee Wellness Program Committee must be developed by the second meeting. This way, everyone knows what the Employee Wellness Program Committee is working toward.
Once a wellness program has been established, the committee’s size and meeting schedule may change. Still, no fewer than 4 members must meet at least quarterly so the group – and the wellness program – does not fade away.
