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The Fractional Well-Being Officer: A New Profession

The Fractional Well-Being Officer: A New Profession

More than ever, corporate leaders are paying attention and focusing on employees’ overall well-being. With more companies committed to demonstrating their responsibility in maintaining holistic wellness in the workplace, we see the rise of well-being roles.

A Chief Well-Being Officer (CWO), also known as Chief Wellness Officer, leads the organization in initiatives that embed well-being into all facets of the employee experience. While prioritizing well-being in the workplace is not a new concept, the position of the CWO is relatively new. And many companies are only now creating new positions for the role.

While some organizations can turn to existing HR leaders within their workforce, many recognize that they need to gain the skills and experience to create, promote, and implement well-being programs. With that, companies seek the expertise of fractional well-being officers: external leaders that will work with them on a contract basis to develop programs that help maintain the factors that interconnect and shape well-being.

What Does a Fractional Well-Being Officer Do?

Because maintaining well-being is the goal of the CWO, well-being initiatives and programs may be similar across different companies and industries. And programs may differ depending on the company’s unique culture or workplace environment. A Fractional Chief Well-Being Officer will likely be responsible for a wide range of responsibilities, including:

  • Establish, promote, and maintain a culture of wellness
  • Plan systems, policies, and procedures that safeguard the Well-Being
  • Create and implement well-being programs
  • Develop a system to measure employee happiness, satisfaction, and morale
  • Collect and analyze data on well-being programs and campaigns
  • Monitor the effectiveness and success of well-being programs
  • Actively listen to the well-being needs of everyone
  • Lead training for well-being programs and initiatives
  • Develop programs that promote employee engagement
  • Provide employees with a safe work environment, whether it’s in-office, virtual, or hybrid
  • Lead health awareness campaigns designed to educate employees about preventative care measures
  • Provide employees with resources and support for all forms of health-related needs
  • Develop incentive programs for participating in wellness programs and challenges
  • Conducting regular employee health assessments
  • Coordinate with human resources to ensure the company’s health insurance provider is adequate
  • Work closely and collaboratively with the Chief Human Resources Officer to ensure functions are aligned in implementing wellness programs.
  • Provide at-risk employees with support, resources, and access to the help they need  
  • Establish communication channels for employees with mental health support needs.
  • Continuously learn about the employee experience.

The role of the Chief Well-Being Officer continues to evolve as we learn about employees’ motivations and behaviors and how they contribute to happiness and resilience. Hiring a Fractional Chief Well-Being Officer doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed to address employee well-being all these years. Instead, it can be a way to communicate to your valuable people that you have a more substantial commitment to empowering well-being in the workplace.

Continue reading Part 5.

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