Posted by Employer Wellness | Posted in Employer Wellness | Posted on 07-11-2008
Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Employee Health Promotion Programs?
Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Employer Wellness Program – but is it wise?
This helps and encourages organizations to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy workers, not only for the welfare of its staff members, but as well as the welfare of the organization bottom line … then, yes, it could be necessary.
Tax Breaks as Wellness incentive rewards
In 2007, two senators decided to band together to create the “Healthy Workforce Act.” This act is designed to encourage organizations to keep staff members healthy and prevent disease. The senators believed that having a country focused on “well care” versus “sick care” would decrease the overall costs of health care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s workers.
The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, states that companies would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they provide to their staff members a Employer Wellness Program that meets the following criteria:
1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health Risk Assessments and Health Screening and Biometric Testings.
2) A behavioral change component – such as counseling, seminars, or self-help materials to empower staff members to lead healthier lifestyles.
3) A supportive environment component – including offering meaningful incentive rewards to taking part in staff members, such as a reduction in medical premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Employee Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an staff member engagement committee – which would tailor the Employer Wellness Program to the needs of the workers at a particular organization.
If this legislation gets passed, many organizations will be scrambling to provide Employee Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.