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. 

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!

Fall 2022

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