Wellness incentives

Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Corporate Health Promotion Programs?

Wellness incentives may seem like an effective way to get employees excited about Wellness Program - but is it wise?

This helps and encourages corporations to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy employees, not only for the welfare of its employees, but as well as the welfare of the company bottom line … then, yes, it could be necessary.

Tax Breaks as Wellness incentives

In 2007, two senators decided to band together to create the “Healthy Workforce Act.” This act is designed to encourage corporations to keep employees 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 employees.

The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, notes that businesses would receive a Wellness incentive - a fifty percent tax credit - if they provide to their employees a Wellness Program that meets the following criteria:

1) A health awareness and education component, which could include Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals and Health Screening and Biometric Testings.
2) A behavioral change component – such as counseling, seminars, or self-help materials to empower employees to lead healthier lifestyles.
3) A supportive environment component – including providing meaningful incentives to taking part in employees, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing employees to engage in walking Corporate Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an employee engagement committee – which would tailor the Wellness Program to the needs of the employees at a particular business.

If this law gets passed, many corporations will be scrambling to provide Corporate Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentives.