Three Benefits of Employee Wellness Incentive Programs

Whether it’s a participation trophy, a blue ribbon or just a pat on the back, everyone likes to receive praise for a job well done. Research has shown that workplace productivity increases after the launch of an incentive program, and now many companies are using similar programs to motivate their employees to live healthier lives.

The Rise of Wellness Programs

Workplace wellness programs seek to encourage employees to adopt healthier, more active lifestyles by offering incentives to increase interest and participation. These programs have increased in popularity in recent years. According to a survey by National Business Group on Health (NBGH), 97 percent of employers offer a health risk assessment, biometric screening or other wellness program.

A Variety of Incentives

Incentives can range from gift cards to reduced health care premiums to public recognition. While monetary incentives are still popular, other types of rewards can motivate as well.

“Increasingly the employee perks are not always financial,” explains Shannon Welch, Product Manager of BlueHealth Rewards for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “While the rewards could be a contribution to a health reimbursement account or paid time off, employers are getting more creative with intrinsic rewards specific to their organization. One popular BlueHealth Rewards pilot (program) ran last year at a hospital where employees could pick their on-call partner if they participated in specific wellness challenges.”

There are multiple benefits of employee wellness incentive programs:

Improved Employee Health

Healthier employees mean more productive, happier employees. According to the NBGH survey, employees use 70 percent fewer sick days if they’re participating in wellness programs compared to those who opt out. When the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) collected responses from 380 human resources professionals of different-sized organizations, 76 percent rated their incentives as being very effective at improving the health of their employees.

Increased Employee Retention

Job seekers like to work for organizations that seem committed to their employees’ health and wellbeing. A study by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health found a connection between wellness programs and decreased employee turnover. Wellness programs can also have a positive impact on how employees perceive workplace culture. A survey conducted by Virgin HealthMiles found that 77 percent of employees believe that wellness programs positively impact the culture at work.

Lower Health Care Costs

Though wellness programs can be an investment, they often pay off in health care savings. Healthier employees get sick less often which results in lower health care expenses, such as doctor’s visits, prescriptions, procedures and hospitalizations. An analysis by Health Affairs found that, as of 2010, medical costs fell approximately $3.27 and absenteeism costs fell by about $2.73 for every dollar invested in wellness programs.

Welch points to a specific BlueHealth Rewards program through one of BlueCross’ larger groups that sought to reduce diabetes among its employee population.

“At-risk employees were required to work regularly with a health coach for a total yearly premium reduction reward of $1,200,” she explained. “If they didn’t call in or [if they] hung up, they stood to leave a lot of money on the table.”

Implementing a wellness program can take time and resources, but a company dedicated to health often reaps the benefits with healthier, happier employees.

For employers: Wellness programs are regulated by federal and state law. Consult your legal counsel before implementing any program component.

Standing Desk Benefits: Is the Latest Workplace Trend a Good One?

With computers and desks now centerpieces of the modern workplace, it’s easy to spend most of the day parked in a chair. To combat a sedentary lifestyle, standing desks — one of the newest professional trends — are offering employees a reason to get up. Studies suggest sitting too long can increase one’s risk of heart disease and diabetes, which means getting up out of a chair can keep illness at bay. But the standing desk benefits don’t stop there. A study in BMC Public Health showed that standing 10 hours during the work week ultimately increased physical activity.

There are just as many challenges to this work style, though. Thinking about implementing a standing desk option for your office? Here are some things to consider.

Sitting Versus Standing

There is a slightly higher calorie burn when standing up. According to the British Medical Journal, standing burns .83 more calories per minute than sitting, and increases the heart rate by 10 beats per minute as well. Ultimately, the change from sitting to standing is good for heart health. Standing at work also makes it easier for you to move around, both by shifting your weight at your desk and by walking more readily to other areas of the office. Even just moving between standing and sitting positions is helpful.

Mentally, standing keeps workers more alert than when they’re sitting down because it requires them to constantly rebalance themselves without even realizing it. By moving their feet and shoulders in this way, their focus slightly sharpens in the process. A study in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that elementary school children also had better focus when using standing desks in their classroom. Their energy increased along with it, which is crucial considering how long students are inside during the day.

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Can’t Stand It?

Standing too long, however, can increase leg and feet soreness. It can also cause varicose veins, which are enlarged vessels that have lost some of their natural elasticity. Veins in your legs are most prone to becoming varicose because of the gravity needed to pump blood from the legs into the middle and upper parts of your body.

Some employees simply aren’t comfortable or physically able to stand for long periods of time. And no one should be forced to use a standing desk if they’d rather not. Given certain dress codes, those wearing high heels may want to bring another pair of shoes to change into. Some prefer to wear sneakers that are good for walking, as they provide cushioning and comfort when they’re on their feet all day.

Bridging the Gap

The saying, “everything in moderation” applies to standing desks as much as anything else. Standing desks come in a variety of types, and there should be options to change between standing and sitting positions quickly. It’s harder to do that with stationary standing desks, because they often involve moving the computer and other work items to another surface each time. Adjustable work stations get around this by allowing a person to move his or her work surface by lifting the computer upward and downward, switching easily between standing and sitting positions.

A standing desk benefits employees who are looking to be more active, but there are several ways for workers to get moving. Conduct small group meetings while walking instead of in conference rooms, reposition printers so they’re further away from their desks and propose that colleagues deliver certain messages in person instead of email.

Advice or recommendations are for informational or educational purposes only, not a substitute for a visit or consultation with your doctor.
For employers: Wellness programs are regulated by federal and state law. Consult your legal counsel before implementing any program component.