Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund Program

The Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund Program is an annual fund available to UBC departments and units to support grassroots activities that promote wellbeing in the workplace.

About the Healthy Workplace Initiatives Fund Program (HWIP)

Guided by the Focus on People (FoP) Framework, Strategy 1: “To develop a sustainable, healthy workplace”, the purpose of this initiative is to develop a program, supported by funding, to which departments can apply to support healthy workplace initiatives and share examples of good practice, The program provides start-up funds and support for health-related, sustainable initiatives. You can apply for funding for programs that include yoga or fitness classes, building a community garden or investing in mental health training in your workplace.

Purpose of the funding

• Provide a de-centralized approach to promoting health and wellbeing 
• To enable units and departments to create and maintain healthy work environments
• Intended to build capacity and knowledge within units 
• To support the introduction of healthy initiatives intended to be adopted long term by the department

Funding Criteria

• Endorsement(s) from the departmental director(s) or head(s) of unit(s) is required, 
• Focus on the promotion of healthy behaviours to reduce or prevent long-term illness, chronic disease, or injuries;
• Effective health initiatives involve more than one-time workshops or programs. They encompass a multi-pronged approach aimed at reducing barriers and increasing opportunities for UBC staff and faculty to implement healthy behaviours.
• Initiatives should be inclusive of a range of abilities and perspectives;
• Are accompanied by a long-term plan to sustain the initiative on a continuing basis after the funding period.  Applicants should outline how they expect this initiative to continue after the one-year HWIP funding period has finished.
• Activities that benefit faculty and staff, postdoctoral fellows (e.g. non-salaried students);

Funding exclusions 

• Operational expenses (Hiring of faculty/staff as instructors or to coordinate the program, items that fall within the responsibility of the department to provide)
• To conduct primarily research-oriented activities; 
• For building renovations, furniture, or large-scale fitness equipment.

*Departments/units who have received HWIP funding previously can apply for funding multiple times, however, priority is given to departments that have not received HWIP funding before

Eligibility

Any Vancouver or Okanagan UBC department/unit or UBC recognized operational committees that represent various departments/units are eligible to apply for funding.

Spring 2022 Application period is now closed

application Process 

Successful applications will be selected using a lottery system. All applicants will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline.  Priority will be given to departments and units that have not received funding in previous rounds.

Each department may submit one application per year and successful applications are selected on a lottery basis until the available funding has been used up.

If your department is approved for Healthy Workplace Initiative funding, you must use the funds within one year.

The fund is based on a reimbursement model.  All successful departments will need to cover the cost of the initiatives upfront and then submit receipts for reimbursement.

Three Steps to apply:

Step one: Review and select one of the eight funding areas below

 Step two: Sample application form

Step three: Submit senior leader sign-off (you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions)

View HWIP FAQs.

Making the case to your department?

If you are looking for information for supervisors or managers to support an application for a healthy workplace initiative, we’re here to help!  See below for helpful tools and resources.

Investing in workplace health is a sound investment. Studies show the following benefits of workplace health initiatives:

• Physical exercise, actively working on time management and increased social time help improve occupation stress (particularly among faculty). [1]
• Active promotion of physical activity and health-related activities in the workplace reduces absenteeism and increases the overall mental health of employees. [2] [3]
• In Canada, the majority of workplace health programs aim to improve outcomes related to employee stress, work-life balance and depression. [4]
• Top priorities in Canadian workplaces include 1) developing workplace cultures where individuals are responsible for their health and 2) improving the mental health of employees. [5]

Making the Case for Managers (to help senior leaders understand the benefits of participation)
Evidence to support workplace health initiatives
Access your units Workplace Experience Survey data

2022 Funding Recipients

Congratulations to the 36 departments and units rolling out health and wellbeing programs in 2022!

For more information please contact Truelove Twumasi, Workplace Wellbeing Programs Specialist: t.twumasi@ubc.ca

[1] Arabia, S., Kokash, H. & Arabia, S. Faculty Perception of Stress and Coping Strategies in a Saudi Private University?: An Exploratory Study. Can. Cent. Sci. Educ. 4, 137–149 (2011).
[2] Bhui, K. S., Dinos, S., Stansfeld, S. A. & White, P. D. A Synthesis of the Evidence for Managing Stress at Work: A Review of the Reviews Reporting on Anxiety, Depression, and Absenteeism. J. Environ. Public Health 2012, 1–21 (2012).
[3] Chu, A. H. Y., Koh, D., Moy, F. M. & Muller-Riemenschneider, F. Do workplace physical activity interventions improve mental health outcomes? Occup. Med. (Chic. Ill). 64, 235–245 (2014).
[4] Buck Consultants, Working Well: A Global Survey Of Health Promotion And Workplace Wellness Strategies. 2009. Print. Executive Summary.
[5] Towers Watson, Trends And Directions On Workforce Health And Productivity. 2014. Print. 2013/2014 Staying at Work Survey.