Wellness Program Incentives.

Incentives encourage workers to adopt positive behaviors or maintain an existing positive behavior that may potentially help the employee stay healthy and live longer. Adopting positive health behavior is fundamentally what wellness is about.

Incentives can be used to increase participation rates, help individuals complete a Wellness Program, or help individuals change or adhere to healthful behaviors.

Providing incentives and rewards will send an important message to the staff members that your organization is committed to helping them with bettering their health. It also plays a significant role in arousing individuals to participate.

Tips on how to choose appropriate incentives –

• Identify through an worker survey what incentives they value.

• Identify what incentives the organization can provide in addition to what the budget will allow.

• Ensure that every participant who achieves a goal receives some recognition.

• Avoid offering incentives for the “best” or the “most.”

• Avoid using food as a reward.

• Use incentives to promote your Wellness Program, through logos and branding.