Posted by admin | Posted in Workplace Health Promotion | Posted on 25-11-2008
Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Workplace Health Promotion Programs?
Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get employees excited about Workplace Health Promotion Program – but is it wise?
This helps and encourages businesses to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy workforce, not only for the welfare of its employees, but as well as the welfare of the corporate 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 businesses 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 medical care for everyone. They decided to start with America’s workforce.
The legislation, introduced by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin and Oregon Senator Gordon Smith, states that companies would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they provide to their employees a Workplace Health Promotion Program that meets the following criteria:
1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health risk assessments 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 incentive rewards to taking part in employees, such as a reduction in medical premiums or allowing employees to engage in walking Workplace Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an worker engagement committee – which would tailor the Workplace Health Promotion Program to the needs of the workforce at a particular organization.
If this law gets passed, many businesses will be scrambling to provide Workplace Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.
