When constructing a wellness program within your organization, creating a solid wellness team is critical to your program’s success. Teams lead the way for other employees to transform their lives and make positive, healthy choices. Consider the following suggestions for developing a wellness team and getting your wellness program off to a good start.
Formally Appoint Team Members And A Leader
Upper-level management should formally appoint several employees to the team and choose a strong individual who is also a positive health role model to lead the team. This shows everyone that the wellness program and the team’s roles are important within the organization. Consider making wellness team responsibilities part of the team member’s job description.
Promote The Wellness Team Within The Organization
Internally promote the workplace wellness team and its initiatives. Creating high visibility for the program sends the message to employees that it is important.
Include Employees From All Levels And Areas Of The Organization
To demonstrate that the wellness initiative is constructed for the benefit of all employees and to gain “buy-in,” include individuals in varying degrees of health from various areas and levels of the company. Within the team, executives and frontline employees should be equal.
Meet On A Regular Schedule With A Formal Agenda
Teams should meet on a regular basis to make sure the program priorities don’t get sidelined by other tasks. An agenda clarifies the focus of the team’s initiatives and drives the meetings. Record minutes to keep track of activity and progress.
Communicating Often Is The Key
To successfully educate and inform other employees, the team members should constantly communicate about their initiatives.
An effective workplace wellness team can dramatically improve the health initiatives within your organization. Not only will these individuals work to rally others, their efforts can also lead to reduced health care costs while bettering the physical and emotional state of all your employees.
