Posted by Company Wellness | Posted in Company Wellness | Posted on 30-10-2008
Is It Necessary to Incent Organizations to Initiate Corporate Health Promotion Programs?
Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Company Wellness Program – but is it wise?
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 company 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 medical care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s staff members.
The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, notes that corporations would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they offer to their staff members a Company 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 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 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 Corporate Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an employee engagement committee – which would tailor the Company 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 Corporate Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.