Wellness rewards

Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Workplace Wellness Programs? 

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

This helps and encourages businesses to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy employees, 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 rewards 

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

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

      1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health Risk Assessments / Health Risk Appraisals and Health 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 rewards to participating staff members, such as a reduction in medical premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Workplace Wellness Programs during the workday.

      4) The creation of an worker engagement committee – which would tailor the Workplace Wellness Program to the needs of the employees at a particular organization. 

If this law gets passed, many businesses will be scrambling to offer Workplace Wellness Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness rewards.