On this page, you can download a document that provides very detailed guidance on running the initial meetings of a Health and Well-being Committee (HaWC), a new form of participatory program that gives employees a channel to voice concerns and ideas for improving the workplace. This document can be used in conjunction with other resources available on the MIT Sloan School of Management website on this topic, including "Starting a Workplace Health and Well-Being Committee: A Step-By-Step Guide for Managers," and a slide deck designed for use in the first four meetings of a new Health and Well-Being Committee.
The HaWC model was developed by researchers at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as part of a collaboration with a national retail organization. In the study, HaWCs had positive impacts on employees' mental health in the first six months and reduced turnover by 20% over 12 months, all at a comparatively low cost.