Wellness incentive rewards may seem like an effective way to get staff members excited about Corporate 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 staff members, but as well as the welfare of the organization 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 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 employees.

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

1) A health education and awareness component, which could include Health Risk Assessments 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 providing meaningful incentive rewards to participating staff members, such as a reduction in health premiums or allowing staff members to engage in walking Corporate Wellness Programs during the workday.
4) The creation of an staff member engagement committee – which would tailor the Corporate Wellness Plan to the needs of the employees at a particular company.

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