Is It Necessary to Incent Corporations to Initiate Corporate Health Promotion Programs?

Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get employees excited about Corporate Health Promotion Program – but is it wise?

This helps and encourages organizations to understand the importance of maintaining a healthy workers, 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 organizations 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 healthcare for everyone. They decided to start with America’s workers.

The legislation, introduced by Oregon Senator Gordon Smith and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, states that corporations would receive a Wellness incentive reward – a fifty percent tax credit – if they offer to their employees a Corporate Health Promotion Program that meets the following criteria:

1) A health awareness and education 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 offering meaningful incentive rewards to taking part in employees, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing employees to engage in walking Corporate Health Promotion Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an employee engagement committee – which would tailor the Corporate Health Promotion Program to the needs of the workers at a particular business.

If this legislation gets passed, many organizations will be scrambling to offer Corporate Health Promotion Programs in hopes of receiving the Wellness incentive rewards.