Wellness incentive rewards
Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Worksite Health and Wellness Programs?
Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Worksite Health and Wellness Program – but is it wise?
This helps and encourages companies to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy workforce, not only for the welfare of its staff members, but as well as the welfare of the corporate 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 companies 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 medical care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s workforce.
The legislation, introduced by Oregon Senator Gordon Smith and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, states that businesses would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they offer to their staff members a Worksite Health and Wellness Program that meets the following criteria:
1) A health awareness and education 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 health premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Worksite Health and Wellness Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an worker engagement committee – which would tailor the Worksite Health and Wellness Program to the needs of the workforce at a particular company.
If this law gets passed, many companies will be scrambling to offer Worksite Health and Wellness Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.
