WORKPLACE FOOD AND ACTIVITY ENVIRONMENT
ENACT STRATEGY: Reimburse Prevention
Reimburse employees for preventive health and wellness activities
The cost of employee healthcare benefits is skyrocketing for both employers and employees. To decrease the cost of treating chronic diseases, a focus on prevention is necessary. Workplace environments that offer incentives for employees to seek preventive healthcare practices -- such as reimbursement or coverage policies -- will see an increase in employee health and a reduction in overall healthcare costs to all parties. Preventive health and wellness activities reduce the risk of chronic diseases and therefore lower healthcare costs, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, and create a more positive work environment.
Characteristics of reimbursement policies:
- Reimbursement of a specified dollar amount per month or year for wellness and prevention services;
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Preventive health and wellness activities can include but are not limited to:
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Yoga/fitness classes
- Mental health counseling
- Fitness center membership
The program pays two-thirds of the cost of a gym membership for employees who go a minimum of 10 times a month and two-thirds the cost of a Weight Watchers program. Walkers are also paid.
IBM Using Financial Incentives and Web-based Tools to Increase Employee Physical Activity
IBM made a unique commitment to further promote physical activity among employees by offering a $150 cash rebate to US employees for participating in a physical activity program.
The article “Wellness Advocates Wanted in Area Businesses“ (PDF) describes the successful introduction and development of workplace wellness plans in North Carolina businesses. The Community Change Chronicles is a newsletter distributed by Eat Smart, Move More... North Carolina.
The “Getting Started and Managing Active Living at Work Strategies“ section on the Health Canada website outlines steps for organizations and employees to follow in order to set up wellness benefits and programs in the workplace.
Building Healthy Texans: A guide to lower health-care costs and more productive employees. This toolkit, developed in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, is a guide to help employers develop and improve programs for employee wellness.
Fruits and Vegetables and Physical Activity at the Worksite: Business Leaders and Working Women Speak Out on Access and Environment (PDF), a report compiled by the California 5 a Day Worksite Program, identifies the best ways to increase fresh fruit and vegetable intake and activity in the workplace as well as other strategies to improve workplace wellness.
Health Canada offers a Business Case Template for organizations to refer to while developing wellness programs and benefits in the workplace. This template is intended to be modified to suit the needs of each organization.
The California WorksWell Model Project has the ultimate goal of providing a master design for a comprehensive wellness program for all employees of the State of California.
The Partnerships for a Healthy Workforce initiative at Partnership for Prevention “engages private and public employers in improving employee health and productivity by investing in comprehensive worksite health promotion programs.”
The City of Fort Worth developed a wellness strategy to reduce health claims costs. Employees who participate in two health screenings and meet a certain number of health-behavior criteria, are eligible for an award of up to $250 in cash or 15 hours in additional vacation time. When the program began, 56% of participants were in the high-risk category; three years later only 22% were still high-risk.
San Bernadino County Walking Club
An incentive based program for San Bernadino county employees has motivated 1,600 employees to walk on their breaks. A survey of participants revealed weight loss, a reduction of stress, and increased energy levels.