Worksite Wellness Programs

Is It Necessary to Incent Organizations to Initiate Worksite Wellness Programs?

Wellness rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Worksite Wellness Program – but is it smart?

This helps and encourages organizations to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy staff members, 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 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 healthcare for everyone. They decided to start with America’s staff members.

The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, states that corporations would receive a Wellness reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they offer to their staff members a Worksite Wellness Program that meets the following criteria:

1) A health awareness and education component, which could include Health risk assessments and Health Screenings.
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 providing meaningful rewards to taking part in staff members, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Worksite Wellness Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an worker engagement committee – which would tailor the Worksite Wellness Program to the needs of the staff members at a particular company.

If this legislation gets passed, many organizations will be scrambling to offer Worksite Wellness Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness rewards.