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

Wellness incentives may seem like an effective way to get workers excited about Workplace Health and Wellness Plan - but is it smart?

This helps and encourages companies to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy employees, not only for the welfare of its workers, 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 workers 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 employees.

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 provide to their workers a Workplace Health and Wellness Plan that meets the following criteria:

1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health Risk Assessments (HRAs) and Health Testings.
2) A behavioral change component – such as counseling, seminars, or self-help materials to empower workers to lead healthier lifestyles.
3) A supportive environment component – including offering meaningful incentives to participating workers, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing workers to engage in walking Workplace Wellness Initiatives during the workday.
4) The creation of an worker engagement committee – which would tailor the Workplace Health and Wellness Plan to the needs of the employees at a particular company.

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