Step 2 - Establish a Workplace Health Committee

It is important that the workplace “be on board” and “buy into” the balanced workplace health program. The program and the committee need the involvement and support of, not just senior management, but of employees, unions, and other key stakeholders in order to be successful. These groups all need to be working together toward the same goal. 

Strategies

Establish the workplace health committee
Ensure the committee is representative of all the sectors within the organization. This committee is not to be a sounding board for grievances, but instead it is the driving force behind workplace health and wellness initiatives.

Building trust
The concept of balanced workplace health programming is relatively new for many, so the committee must ensure everyone’s interests and needs are respected.  This helps to build trust which is an important first step to then carry out the program.

Communication  
Keep employees informed about the activities and importance of the Balanced Workplace Health Program. The success of the program will rely on regular and effective communication between employees, management, and the workplace health committee.

Setting goals
Develop achievable short-term goals to market the Balanced Workplace Health Program. See Sample Communication Plan (MS Word / Adobe PDF) to assist you with this task. These short term goals will suffice until employees are surveyed.

Create a Terms of Reference
See sample Terms of Reference (MS Word / Adobe PDF)

Checklist

• Does the committee include a broad selection of members especially management, union and health/human resources?
• Do you have a vision statement that will guide you as you develop your workplace health program?
• Has a terms of reference been developed for the committee?
• Does the committee communicate with employees, management and the union on an on-going basis?
• Do employees and management support the program?
• Are employees comfortable with the committee and its purpose?  Have you built trust and employee buy-in?
• Do you have a detailed list outlining organizational strengths that will help you develop and implement the workplace health program?
• Have you developed a list outlining organizational challenges and how they will need to be addressed?

Links and Resources

1. The Health Communication Unit Workplace Information and Resources
   The Health Communication Unit at the Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto, is one of 22 members of the Ontario Health Promotion Resource System funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The Health Communication Unit was developed to provide training and support in health communication and includes health promotion planning, evaluation, and policy change.