Posts from — November 2008

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

Wellness incentives may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative – 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 incentives

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 health care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s workforce.

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

1) A health awareness and education component, which could include Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) 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 incentives 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 employee engagement committee – which would tailor the Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative to the needs of the workforce at a particular corporation.

If this legislation gets passed, many companies will be scrambling to offer Workplace Wellness Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentives.

Worksite Obesity: The Facts

Worksite obesity has become one of the fastest growing health care problems in America. It is well known that America is considered one of the, if not “the”, heaviest countries in the world. This is largely in part due to fast food, un-healthy snacks and a very sedentary lifestyle. However, what many people are not aware of is that the rate of obesity in our country has doubled in the last 30 years and this weighs heavily on a corporation’s bottom line.

According to a new report from The Conference Board, Weights and Measures: What organizations Should Know about Obesity, obese staff members cost private companies an estimated $45 billion annually. Here are some of the report’s findings:

Obesity is associated with a 36% increase in spending on health care, more than smoking or problem drinking.
34% of adult United States citizens fit the definition of “obese”
Obesity related health problems are costing United States businesses millions of dollars annually in medical expenditures and work loss.

Worksite Obesity: How companies Can Help

With the increase in obesity and organization costs associated with it, it is more and more imperative to establish a way to assist staff members with their healthy living choices. Workplace Wellness Programs can help companies help their staff members. By providing assistance with Health Screening, Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) and by conducting Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative surveys; Workplace Wellness Programs allow the organization non-invasive ways to communicate their concerns about their employee’s health.

We suggest establishing a Walking Corporate Health and Wellness Initiative to assist your staff members in meeting their weight-loss goals. Walking Wellness is a program designed to get your staff members away from their desk and get them outside for a little exercise. Keep it fun by having contests, setting up weight-loss teams and having organized healthy picnics.