According to the Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI), 90 percent of U.S. corporations now offer an employee wellness program of some kind, but many are not achieving the highest possible levels of participation.
Incentives may be key to encouraging employees to get involved, according to ASI, with common products used including backpacks, pedometers, wristbands and other items.
"It's clear from ASI's research that companies can attain a significant ROI through wellness programs – but while 90 percent of U.S. corporations provide employee wellness programs, only 44 percent offer promotional products as incentives for participation," said ASI president and CEO Timothy Andrews. Implementing incentives, according to Andrews, could lower long-term healthcare costs.
The Incentive Research Foundation reported participation in employee wellness programs was approximately 20 percent in corporations which did not offer an incentive, while those that did enjoyed an increase of at least 60 percent. Over time, businesses may offer lower healthcare costs to participating employees or those who meet health targets.
Successful wellness programs can help to mitigate or prevent the development of chronic medical conditions, which are a driving up the cost of health insurance for individuals and employers nationwide.
