Workplace Health Promotion Programs: Rewards and Incentives

Workplace Health Promotion Programs – Employee Engagement Strategies

Workplace Health Promotion Programs without employee engagement are of no use to a business. How do you get workers to enroll in Workplace Health Promotion Programs – and stay engaged in the programs?

The materials for these programs discuss the benefits to workers and businesses. Workplace Health Promotion Program statistics show that there are tangible benefits to a business for offering such programs. Workplace Health Promotion Programs actually do save lives by getting workers to take their health seriously, increase productivity, decrease absenteeism and more.

However, St. Louis, Missouri-based Maritz Inc., the world’s largest incentive business, has applied their own invigorating twist to health management by offering gift rewards to workers who participate in Workplace Health Promotion Programs. The wellness incentive program is Maritz’s own Exclusively Yours® plan. Health management participants earn points, which can be then redeemed for merchandise, electronics, restaurant vouchers and travel, much like a frequent-flier program.

Enrollment incentives in Workplace Health Promotion Programs?

Undoubtably businesses that don’t work in the incentives industry will be tempted to cry foul about using such a rich carrot to incentivize health program enrollments. Not every business can throw that kind of money at health management resources – and not every business has the built-in cost savings as a business that specializes in offering incentive programs.

For certain rich incentives like Maritz’s will break through the glaze that appears over many workers’ eyes when they’re encouraged to do something new, different or challenging. For many workers uncomfortable with health management and physical activity, “new, different and challenging” would apply to Workplace Health Promotion Programs. So where does that leave businesses who are unwilling or unable to provide incentives for health management program enrollment?

Successful Workplace Health Promotion Programs motivate workers – before and after signup

Workplace Health Promotion Program administrators should keep the long-term view in mind when trying to get workers to take that imperative first step. Even the best incentives can fail in the face of faltering organization, badly-designed Workplace Health Promotion Programs and wavering support. Make sure to run good Wellness surveys before you build your Workplace Health Promotion Programs so staff member input and needs are being met by your Workplace Health Promotion Programs. The goal is positive outcomes, not high enrollment numbers.

Workplace Health Promotion Programs cannot survive managerial apathy. If executive and managerial participation is widespread and heartfelt, workers will follow their leadership. The potential rewards and Wellness benefits are clearly worth reaping, for both your employer and your co-workers.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 13th, 2008 at 3:00 pm and is filed under Health and Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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