Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

Establishing an active Corporate Wellness Program Committee supports opportunities for both upper management and employee participation in the program.  The Wellness Committee ought to be a group of staff members and managers who formally meet to plan activities to reward healthier employee lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Company Wellness Program Committee:

• Evaluating needs & interests
• Brainstorming program ideas
• Beginning activities
• Developing communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-workers
• Serving as champions of the Company Wellness Programs
• Assisting with assessment  

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

Depending on your organization size and resources, if you already have a organization Safety Committee you might want to consider making it the Safety & Employee Wellness Program Committee.  You have the potential to request volunteers or invite staff members to participate.  

The number of Worksite Health Promotion Program Committee participants depends on the size of your business; however, you need a sufficient number of participants to get the work done and yet not too many to keep it manageable, usually a minimum of 4 participants and maximum of 12 to 15 participants.  It’s important to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those employees already practicing healthy lifestyles.  

Depending on your worksite, consider representatives from the following areas:

• Employee representatives from a cross section of different departments,
• Senior Management
• Health and safety consultant(s),
• Human Resources (HR) consultant(s),
• Employee benefits representative or someone from finance,
• Your EAP provider (if applicable), Click here for more information on EAPs
• Occupational health employee (if applicable).

Establish an effective Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee!  The Workplace Health Promotion Program Committee ought to meet on a regular basis with a planned agenda and action items.  Successful Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and objectives.  Participants must believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is important, benefits the organization and co-staff members, and they are recognized for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other businesses have implemented.