In order to be truly well, individuals should practice wellness habits throughout the day, even at work. After all, most people spend 40 hours a week working or at the office, which is not the time to ignore health.
Therefore, it’s important to focus on health in the workplace, as well as at home. This effort is made easier when companies have a health and well-being program with a dedicated wellness committee.
The role of a wellness committee
A wellness committee assesses, creates and implements wellness activities that inspire and encourage employees to stay motivated and engaged and make positive decisions about their health and well-being.1
Employee wellness programs include health challenges, weight loss resources, health screenings and mental well-being tools. Corporate wellness programs also include offering healthy snacks around the office, providing gym memberships or discounts for memberships, team activities to get employees more involved or extra mental health days.
These programs must be designed and implemented by a team who can represent employees’ voices. That is where a corporate wellness committee comes into play. A wellness committee can work with human resources, leadership and stakeholders to identify and share what needs their employees have.2
The key goals of a wellness committee include:
- Increase awareness of health concerns that contribute to decreased physical and mental health
- Discover and identify employees’ wants and needs to improve company wellness culture
- Inspire and encourage employees to take responsibility for their own health
- Help cultivate a community and raise awareness of wellness programs through the use of the company’s resources
Building successful wellness programs
Wellness committees play a large role within wellness programs. The creation of programs and implementation of activities by wellness committees help keep employees’ health top-of-mind.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:3
- 59% of employees do not get enough exercise
- 26% are overweight by 20% or more in body mass index
- 50% or more have high cholesterol
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found between 70% and 90% of healthcare spending is due to preventable and modifiable health risks. These health risks can lead to chronic diseases, which affect businesses’ bottom lines. Therefore, promoting healthy behaviors and wellness can pay off, both for employee health and for the company’s financial health.
What does a successful wellness committee look like?
Successful wellness committees need the backing and support of the organization’s leadership. They need a team of leaders who will communicate their ideas and progress and help influence engagement through company newsletters and town halls. Wellness communities need to be inclusive and diverse. They should be representative of the employees. The members of a wellness committee need to be committed. Health and well-being are not quick fixes. It takes time to make changes and create a wellness culture. If members cannot commit long-term due to bandwidth problems or lack of investment, they aren’t the right fit to be on the committee.
Evaluate the success of your corporate wellness committee
When the committee is compiling activities and programs to implement, it’s important they also decide how they will measure the outcomes. This includes mapping out what data is important to gather, how to monitor progress and measure outcomes. In reviewing the wellness program or specific activities, it’s important to know what worked and what can be improved in the future.4
The Go365® personalized well-being and rewards program offers dashboards and reports to track progress toward your program goals. Plan regular meetings with your organizational leaders and members of your wellness committee to make sure your health and well-being program supports your organization’s objectives.
For example, a primary goal of the Go365 program is to engage members by rewarding them for short-term activities that are in their best interest long term. The ultimate purpose is to create new healthy habits and support sustainable lifestyle changes.
To read more about Go365 team wellness strategies, contact your Humana sales rep or request more information about Go365’s wellness program by filling out this formOpens in new window.
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Sources:
1 Rick Demaray, “Wellness Committee Purpose, Objectives, Roles,” last accessed July 28, 2021, https://community.intelex.com/library/peer-resources/wellness-committee-purpose-objectives-roles Opens in new window.
2 “Wellness Committee Purpose, Objectives, Roles.”
3 Karen Smith, “Why Workplace Wellness is Important,” Capital Region Chamber, last accessed July 28, 2021, https://capitalregionchamber.com/business-resources/business-u/business-library/workplace-wellness-important/ Opens in new window.
4 “Create a Wellness Program,” Texas Department of State Health Services, last accessed July 28, 2021, https://www.dshs.texas.gov/Wellness/CreateWellness/#Step%20Six:%20Evaluate%20Success* Opens in new window.