As of the passing of the health care reform act of 2010, all businesses are required to provide some form of health care for their employees. Some companies, though, take things a step further, working to actually improve their staffers’ health care through various incentive programs. Businesses may work with already in-place incentive programs through their insurance companies or start their own, offering employees financial boosts for healthier behavior.
Smoking Cessation
While having employees who smoke may be disruptive when you’re trying to find them during a smoke break or unpleasant for their cubicle neighbors who have to smell cigarette smoke when they return, it’s the employees’ health that may be the largest concern. To counteract the drastic effects on smoking, some companies are enacting smoking cessation health incentive plans. The Business Knowledge Source website reports that companies finding the most success are those offering $500 to each employee who stops smoking and remains smoke-free for the entire year. Other companies provide gift certificates, additional time off and information on how quitting smoking could reduce the employees’ insurance premium.
Blue Points
Solely for employees whose companies offer BlueCross BlueShield health care plans, the Blue Points incentive program promotes healthy exercise by dangling rewards of gift cards and gift items. Through a daily online exercise tracker, employees can detail their day-to-day fitness efforts such as running, gardening and soccer, receiving points for any day in which they exercise over 26 minutes. The site also offers additional points for taking a health assessment, participating in surveys and noting healthy eating habits, such as fruits and vegetables. Points accrue and may be redeemed for gift cards to retailers such as Bath and Body Works, TJ Maxx and Kmart, or for merchandise such as a leather notepad, Bose ceiling bracket or a digital thermometer. Employees may also select charities to donate their points to through the program. BluePoints is conducted entirely online.
Weight Loss
The sight of soda and candy machines, fresh baked goods and snacks are often associated with offices, and that may contribute to the obesity epidemic faced by people all over the country. Some business officials are taking matters into their own hands by creating health incentive weight loss programs. Reported by the Associated Press, over 30 percent of United States businesses offer or are planning to offer financial rewards for losing weight. Some companies focus on exercise, paying employees who wear pedometers, take a gym class or--in IBM’s case--participating in an online 12-week health class, where employees received $150. Although the incentives for weight loss are not a guarantee, they may help employees work harder to meet a weight loss goal.
