Health Fairs

Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Forming an Employee Committee

Although reinforcement from the top is vital to a successful initiative, reinforcement from other employees is also significant.

Once you get the go-ahead from management, identify others who are interested in the project and form a Employee Wellness  Committee to help determine the next steps. Depending on the size of your workplace and the amount of employee time management is willing to contribute, this Employee Wellness  Committee may be advisory or may plan and carry out the initiative.

The Employee Wellness  Committee could include employees from human resources, occupational health and safety and finance. It’s also a great idea to involve employee from other areas who have an interest in promoting physical exercise. Terms of reference will define the boundaries of the project. For example, it’s significant for the Employee Wellness  Committee to have clearly defined and understood tasks. Possible tasks include the following:

• Assessing your workplace environment
• Carrying out an employee interest survey.
• Establishing a mission statement and objectives and goals.
• Writing a physical exercise or wellness policy declaring the organization’s responsibility to physical exercise.
• Brainstorming program ideas.
• Promoting, communicating and marketing the initiative.
• Coordinating specific activities.
• Deciding how the initiative will be evaluated.
• Continually assessing what is or isn’t working and adjusting the plan.

Before making plans to encourage physical exercise during the workday, it’s significant to learn what is “doable” in your workplace.

You do not want to raise employee expectations by offering something that’s not feasible due to funding or space limits. For example, it’s not realistic to suggest putting in a fitness facility if there’s no space for it. Be open, however, to creative ways around limitations.

Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Discovering What’s Possible in Your Workplace

Check with recreation departments or fitness facilities for diagrams of the local walking trails or underground pedways. Great walking trails may be right around the block from your workplace.

Below are some inquiries to help you evaluate your workplace:

• What facilities or opportunities does your work space offer that make it easier to be physically active during the workday? For example, do you have stairs, bike racks, showers, space for a fitness facility, factory walking lanes?
• What nearby facilities or opportunities could employees use to be more physically active during the workday? Are you close to sidewalks, walking trails, neighborhood centres, bike lanes for active commuting and/or exercise facilities?
• What resources are available?
• Can the initiative access funds, personnel, space, equipment, facilities?
• What is the structure of your business? For example, consider employee size, working hours, number of sites, unusual shifts, length of lunch breaks and ability to use flex time.