Drug Education and Intervention in the Workplace

Organizing an active Corporate Health Promotion Program Committee supports opportunities for both management and employee participation in the program.  The Wellness Committee ought to be a team of staff members and managers who formally meet to plan activities to promote healthier employee lifestyles.

Typical Functions of a Company Wellness Program Committee:

• Analyzing needs & interests
• Coming up with program ideas
• Developing activities
• Developing communication plans
• Promoting programs to co-employees
• Serving as champions of the Corporate Health Promotion Programs
• Assisting with evaluation  

Your Company Wellness Program Committee should be representative of all echelons of the employer.  Consider all sections of the workforce – multiple sites, shift employees, diversity (race, gender, ethnicity), and departments.   It’s also valuable to consider who will chair or co-chair the Company Wellness Program Committee and whether or not there are the finances to support a Company Wellness Program manager or occupational health professional, even on a part-time or contractual basis.  Click here for more information on the benefits of a health professional.  

Depending on your business size and resources, if you already have a business Safety Committee you might want to think about making it the Safety & Company Health Promotion Program Committee.  You have the potential to request volunteers or invite staff members to participate.  

The number of Company Health Promotion Program Committee participants is dependent upon the size of your business; however, you need sufficient 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 valuable to include skeptics of wellness as well and not just those staff members already living healthy lifestyles.  

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

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

Establish an effective Employee Wellness Program Committee!  The Employee Wellness Program Committee should meet frequently with a planned agenda and action items.  Effective Wellness Committees have a shared mission, vision and goals/objectives.  Participants must believe that their participation is worthwhile and appreciated, that their work is important, benefits the organization and co-employees, and they are recognized for their contributions. Refer to the NC Workplace Programs section for examples of what other corporations have implemented.