Workplace Wellness Policy

I. Purpose

As part of the Social Sustainability component of UNC Asheville’s Strategic Plan, which states that the University will “invest in those variables that we know will improve student, faculty and staff retention and success,” the Workplace Wellness Program supports the health and well-being of UNC Asheville employees.

II. Scope

This policy applies to all employees of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

III. Policy

The University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Workplace Wellness Program provides wellness resources to all employees of the university in four primary areas concerning healthy lifestyle:  healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco avoidance and cessation, and stress management.  Information regarding the Workplace Wellness Program will be provided to new employees at the time of new employee orientation.

IV. Components

A. Wellness Leader

The Wellness Leader is responsible for establishing and maintaining the infrastructure of the Wellness Program.  The Wellness Leader is a management-level employee with direct access to the Chancellor.  In collaboration with management, employees and the NC Center for Health and Wellness, the Wellness Leader oversees the employee Wellness Committee and provides ongoing assessment and monitoring of the effectiveness of the UNC Asheville Workplace Wellness Program.  The Chancellor or his/her designee will designate an employee to devote twenty-five percent of his/her work duties to the Wellness Program.  The duties of the Wellness Leader include:

1. Serves as the main contact for OSP and the NC State Health Plan to provide information on UNC Asheville’s wellness program and represent the University (or designate an alternate) at the state level wellness meetings and training events.

2. In consultation with the Wellness Committee, develops an annual wellness plan with measurable objectives that address the primary components of a healthy lifestyle, reflects the needs and interests of employees, and offers all employees the same quality and access to programs.

3. Conducts annual evaluation on progress toward meeting the University’s wellness plan objectives.

4. Works with executive management to (1) follow the Strategic Plan, (2) consider environmental policy recommendations brought forth by the wellness committee, and (3) serve as a liaison between the WWC and the NC Center for Health and Wellness.

B. Wellness Committee

The Workplace Wellness Committee (WWC) is a team of employees, including a representative from the NC Center for Health and Wellness, that meet formally to assist the Wellness Leader in identifying aims, goals and implementation strategies to encourage healthy behaviors at the workplace, advocate for policy change, and create health-friendly work environments.  Committee members will be expected to be actively involved in programming, including participating on sub-committees.

The WWC is composed of representatives from all divisions of the University (including a representative from the NC Center for Health and Wellness), is representative of a cross-section of employment, and is reflective of the demographics of the employee population.  Members should expect to be actively involved in planning and implementation of programming.

1. Committee Composition – A fully staffed WWC will have the following set of 11 representatives and additional consultative members:

a. 1 staff member from each of the following units:  Academic Affairs, Finance and Campus Operations, Student Affairs, University Advancement, Athletics and Chancellor’s (6 representatives)
b. 3 faculty members (includes one Health and Wellness)
c. 1 liaison from the NC Center for Health and Wellness
d. 1 Wellness Leader, as appointed by Chancellor or his/her designee
e. Additional members serving in a consultative capacity, such as a representative from Dining Services, Campus Recreation, NC Center for Creative Retirement, etc.

Eligibility and selection

Prior to the end of each academic year (April/May), the Workplace Wellness Leader will collect from current committee members recommendations for new members.  The leader will then forward the names of suggested nominees to the  Senior Staff Officers (i.e., Chancellor, Provost, Vice Chancellors and Director of Athletics and University Enterprises) for final approval of the delegates from their respective units as specified in Section B.1.  Terms of service will be 2 years with four incoming representatives replacing four outgoing representatives each year (terms of the Wellness Leader and NC Center for Health and Wellness representative are indefinite and are not included in the rotational system).

The WWC will elect a wellness chair or co-chairs to conduct meetings and lead activities.  The Chair and the Committee will be advised by experts at the NC Center for Health and Wellness.  In consultation with UNC Asheville’s Advancement Division, the Committee may hold fund raising activities and solicit donations from vendors to support employee wellness initiatives.  Fundraising activities and solicitation of donations will comply with State Ethics Commission guidelines and applicable Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) guidelines for using state funds for wellness activities.  Committee members are charged with providing support and opportunities in the workplace for healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco avoidance and cessation and stress management.  They are also charged with promoting employee awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and resources and benefits, such as the State Health Plan’s tobacco cessation pharmacy program.

Members can expect to lead components of programming and will spend approximately four hours per month on the workplace wellness committee activities.

C. Program Participation Limitations

Workplace wellness activities will typically occur outside of work hours, for example before and after work and at lunch time. Where applicable, supervisors are encouraged to allow flexible work schedules for wellness activities according to the Flexible Work Schedules Policy, UNC Asheville Policy 3129. Participation in wellness activities is voluntary and, therefore, the university is not liable for injuries sustained by employees during their participation in these activities.  As a general reference, injuries that occur during non-pay status are not compensable.  Non-pay status is defined as before work, after work, and non-paid time during the normal workday.  Employees participating in wellness program physical activities will sign a Workplace Wellness Activity liability release form. The signed release forms will be kept in employee personnel files.

Reference Materials:

Source Document: NC State Personnel Manual, Section 8

Virtual Campus Tours