Terms of Reference: Well-being Ambassador Program

The Workplace Health and Well-being program offers needs-based programming for McMaster employees, focusing on employee experience, learning & growth, and health & well-being, while modelling a psychologically safe work environment.

Program Purpose

The Well-being Ambassador Program, overseen by the Program Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being, and supported by Human Resources Services, the McMaster Okanagan, and the Healthy Workplace Committee, has been established to train and support faculty and departmental well-being champions, who will use their role to promote participation in institutional learning opportunities as it pertains to health and well-being. Leaders and ambassadors within each faculty department will play an integral role in the promotion of our employees as valued, whole people, and the advancement towards building an institutional culture of psychological health and safety.

Ambassador Role

For a minimum term of one (1) year, Well-being Ambassadors will:

• Engage their own faculty or department in wellness activities and encourage participation in institutional programs, training opportunities, and wellness activities,
• Collaborate with Human Resources Services to plan and execute departmental wellness opportunities,
• Promote and role model healthy behaviours through resourcing provided by Healthy Workplace Committee and Telus Health, McMaster’s EFAP Provider, and;
• Provide feedback to Program Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being regarding emerging needs of employees within faculty or department.

Department/Faculty Leader Role

The respective department or faculty leader will;

• Work collaboratively with the Program Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being to identify prospective Well-being Ambassadors within their teams,
• Support, and encourage the Well-being Ambassador when engaging their own faculty or department in wellness activities and encourage participation in institutional programs, training opportunities, and wellness activities, and;
• Model healthy behaviours that align with the health promotion and resource sharing from the Well-being Ambassador.

Onboarding, Training and Support

All Well-being Ambassadors will provided with full, complimentary onboarding, training, and support throughout the program, including, but not limited to the following:

• Attendance in two (2) half-day onboarding sessions, concluding with a certificate of completion.
• Inclusion in Well-being Ambassador online Community of Practise, where information to promote to teams will be shared
• Attendance in a minimum of three (3) learning and development opportunities, annually. These include The Working Mind and Professor Hippo on Campus
• Work collaboratively with Program Manager, Workplace Health & Well-being to host at least one (1) faculty or departmental well-being initiative annually

Human Resources Services, McMaster Okanagan, and the Healthy Workplace Committee will work closely and collaboratively with Well-being Ambassadors to ensure thorough, purposeful, and psychologically safe training, onboarding, and ongoing skill-building, while modelling positive workload management.

How long is an well-being ambassador commitment for?

Well-being ambassadors have a minimum term of one year, ran from January-December. There is no maximum time commitment.

Can more than one person from a faculty or department be a well-being ambassador?

Yes, absolutely! This works particularly well with larger faculties or departments.

Is there training to get me up to speed?

Yes, there is onboarding training over two half-days, as well as annual year-round training. Additionally, Well-being Ambassadors are expected to take both The Working Mind, and Professor Hippo on Campus.

Do I need leadership approval?

Yes, there is a leadership approval form that is part of the application package. You will be working collaboratively with team leadership to offer programming and embed well-being into your team’s day-to-day operations.

I’ve never planned a well-being program before, is there support for me?

Yes. The Program Manager will provide coaching and guidance as you set up your program(s). We also have a Community of Practice that is an excellent resource.

I am a manager. Is there someone I can contact for more information?

Both leaders and prospective ambassadors can contact the Program Manager directly at karmstr@mcmaster.ca