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.
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
Eligibility
Any Vancouver or Okanagan UBC department/unit or UBC-recognized operational committees that represent various departments/units are eligible to apply for funding.
Application Criteria
- Applications must demonstrate a commitment to wellbeing in your workplace and focus on the promotion of healthy behaviours to reduce or prevent long-term illness, chronic disease, or injuries;
- Effective health initiatives should involve more than one-time workshops, programs, events or team socials. They must encompass a multi-pronged approach aimed at promoting wellbeing, reducing barriers and increasing opportunities for UBC staff and faculty to implement healthy behaviours;
- Endorsement(s) from the departmental director(s) or head(s) of unit(s) is required,
- 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, staff and postdoctoral fellows
Funding exclusions
- One-time workshops, programs, or events will not be funded.
- 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.
*Previous HWIP recipients are welcome to apply again however, priority will be given to departments and units that have not received funding in previous rounds.
Past HWIP program and Initiative ideas
application Process
Each department may submit one application per year and successful applications are selected on a lottery basis until the available funding is exhausted. All applicants will be notified within two weeks of the application deadline.
Previous HWIP recipients are welcome to apply again however, priority will be given to departments and units that have not received funding in previous rounds.
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.
How to apply:
Review and select one of the eight funding areas
Complete the online application form ( sample application form )
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 58 departments and units that will be rolling out health and wellbeing programs in 2022!
Department |
Worksite |
HWIP Initiative |
Alex Fraser Research Forest |
Other |
Community Garden |
Arts Academic Advising |
Point Grey |
Community Garden |
Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies, Faculty of Arts |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Asian Library |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Athletics & Recreation |
Okanagan |
Team Health Challenge |
Athletics & Recreation - Aquatic Centre |
Point Grey |
Team Health Challenge |
Centre for Teaching and Learning |
Okanagan |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Civil Engineering |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Counselling Services |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Department of Medicine - Centre of Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Team Health Challenge |
Development & Alumni Engagement - Faculty of Medicine |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Division of Palliative Care/Department of Medicine |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Centre for Lung Health |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Mental Health Training |
Exceptional Workplace Team - UBC Library |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Faculty of Medicine-Evaluation Studies Unit |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Faculty of Medicine-Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Team Health Challenge |
Financial Operations |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
French, Hispanic and Italian Studies |
Point Grey |
Team Health Challenge |
Human Resources |
Okanagan |
Team Health Challenge |
Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries |
Point Grey |
Community Garden |
Integrated Service Centre (ISC) |
Point Grey |
Art and Creative Expression |
Internal Communications |
Point Grey |
Art and Creative Expression |
Learning & Talent Development, Human Resources |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Mathematics |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Michael Smith Laboratories |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Postgraduate Medical Education |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Robert H. Lee Graduate School - Recruitment and Admissions Team |
Point Grey |
Team Health Challenge |
Sauder School of Business, Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
School of Audiology and Speech Sciences |
Point Grey |
Team Health Challenge |
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusive Education (SOGI UBC) - Faculty of Education |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Strategy and Decision Support |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
UBC Arts Co-op |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
UBC Okanagan Equity & Inclusion Office |
Okanagan |
Innovative New Idea |
University-Industry Liaison Office - VP Research and Innovation |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Fall 2022
alumni UBC |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
APSC - School of Engineering |
Okanagan |
Innovative New Idea |
Centre for Blood Research |
Point Grey |
Team Health Challenge |
Centre for Heart Lung Innovation |
Other |
Innovative New Idea |
Conferences & Accommodation |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Data Science Institute |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Department of Radiology |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Art and Creative Expression |
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principals Office (UNITED WAY Campaign) |
Okanagan |
Innovative New Idea |
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Engineering Academic Services |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
English Language & Literature |
Point Grey |
Art and Creative Expression |
Facilities / Customer Services and Informatics |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Faculty of Land and Food Systems Student Services |
Point Grey |
Art and Creative Expression |
Financial Planning and Analysis |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Go Global: International Learning Programs, Office of the Vice-Provost, International |
Point Grey |
Nutrition and Healthy Eating |
Office of Enterprise Risk & Assurance |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Office of Regional and International Community Engagement |
Point Grey |
Community Garden |
Post Graduate Medical Education- Basic Clinical Year Training Program |
Other |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Surgery |
VGH/Diamond Centre |
Team Health Challenge |
Sustainability Hub |
Point Grey |
Innovative New Idea |
Transformation and Change Management Team, Integrated Renewal Program Student, Okanagan |
Okanagan |
Art and Creative Expression |
UBC Okanagan Library |
Okanagan |
Innovative New Idea |
Zoology |
Point Grey |
Yoga/Fitness Classes |
Sign up for the monthly Healthy UBC e-Newsletter to stay informed about HWIP criteria and application deadlines.
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