Join WFU’s new WellSpaces program to support office wellbeing

July 20, 2017

Employees spend more than half of their waking hours in the workplace. Are you interested in promoting wellbeing among the staff in your office? Join the Office of Wellbeing and Environmental Health and Safety in the University’s new WellSpaces program.

WellSpaces supports offices in creating and sustaining a culture that promotes personal and collective wellbeing. Program participants create meaningful policies and practices that improve morale, camaraderie, productivity, and achieve individual and staff team goals.

Enrollment for the WellSpaces program is open through August 25. Click here to complete the WellSpaces Application to participate.

As a WellSpace, each office…

• Designates an office Wellbeing Ambassador;
• Participates in manager training on wellbeing and workplace performance;
• Participates in at least one wellbeing activity as an office each month; and
• Adopts three office-level policies or practices that promote team wellbeing such taking walking meetings, forming an office book club or hosting a group lunch. (Other examples are available on the WellSpace website.)

The role of a Wellbeing Ambassador

A Wellbeing Ambassador is the team leader for the office’s wellbeing efforts and helps their WellSpace meet the program’s requirements. This person plays an integral role in campus wellbeing and must have a passion for building a culture of health and wellbeing among their colleagues. The Wellbeing Ambassador…

• Serves as a proponent for activities that promote wellbeing in the workplace, both at the office level and for individual staff members;
• Shares strategies for wellbeing in the workplace;
• Engages office leadership in wellbeing prioritization and establishing wellbeing office practices;
• Serves as a source of information on wellbeing opportunities on campus;
• Facilitates office program participation;
• Shares the office’s WellSpace activities with the Office of Wellbeing monthly;
• Attends quarterly gatherings with Ambassadors from other offices

WellSpace success

In a pilot WellSpaces program tested in ten offices last academic year, participants reported improvements in key areas of wellbeing.

• Staff in 9 of 10 offices reported improvements in their personal wellbeing and seeing the value in engaging in non-work related activities with their colleagues.
• Staff in 8 of 10 offices maintained or improved their enjoyment in telling others about their place of work.
• Staff in 7 of 10 offices maintained or improved in looking forward to working with their colleagues, experiencing a sense of connection with their team, feeling supported in times of stress or challenge, feeling that their office leadership demonstrates a commitment to their personal wellbeing, feeling that their office has a positive work environment and that their leadership demonstrates a commitment to a culture that promotes wellbeing.

Participating WellSpace offices receive recognition for their commitment and annual progress.

For more information, contact Thrive@wfu.edu or call 336-758-3089.