Archive for July, 2010
Wellness Programs : Employee Assistance Program Demand
For a lot of workers, telecommuting and flex-time are highly desired work-life benefits. But a growing number of organizations are reluctant to offer these programs.
Demand for these benefits remains high. One study found that 87 percent of job applicants are familiar with the idea behind telecommuting and flex-time, and the majority express a desire to [...]
Wellness Programs : Health Promotion Programs – Building Program Support.
As with any wellness program, the two vital elements for the success of your wellness program are upper management support and employee involvement. Executive management sets the vision and provides the resources from which action plans flow.
Genuine support from executive management also lends credibility to the health promotion program. It’s key that executive management [...]
Wellness Programs : Tax Credits for Wellness.
In the near future, the federal government may offer help to companys looking to start a health promotion program. The help would take the form of tax breaks to offset health promotion program costs.
A current United States Senate bill would give corporations a substantial tax break for starting health promotion programs. Dubbed the Healthy Workforce [...]
Wellness Programs : Beginning a Wellness Program.
Health Promotion Program Step 1 – Make certain to set the Foundation –
Build Support Among All Levels of the Organization
A key to a successful Health Promotion Program requires management commitment and worker involvement.
Health Promotion Program Step 2 – Form a Health Promotion Committee
An active Health Promotion Committee ensures worker involvement, provides buy-in, upper-level management [...]
Wellness Programs : When it comes to health savings accounts, you’ve to separate the hype from the reality. One of the large myths – a high-deductible plan with an HSA means lower premiums.
In fact, it varies. In some cases, an HSA-eligible plan may cost the same as a non-HSA high-deductible plan. In others, the premiums can actually be more expensive, a recent NHPI report locates.
As a matter of fact, a non-HSA plan offering similar coverage can carry a monthly per-employee premium that’s about $15 to $25 lower [...]
Wellness Programs : Wellness Program Design Choices.
The health promotion program design choices depend on the goals and desired outcomes of your health promotion program. If your goal is to help staff members change behavior, reduce risk factors, or save healthcare dollars then your health promotion program would be designed to accomplish those outcomes and a budget would be necessary to support [...]
Wellness Programs : Wellness Program Risks.
When your company has this common – and increasingly popular – fringe benefit you may be at legal risk without even knowing it.
Some businesses have an on-site employee fitness room as part of a formal wellness program. Others simply do it as a way for folks to get their juices flowing before work or blow [...]
Wellness Programs : Making the Case for Health Promotion Programs.
Major advantages of healthy workers include –
• Lower Health Care Costs
• Reduced Injuries
• Lowered Absenteeism
• Increased Morale and Loyalty
• Higher Productivity
• Reduced Use of Health Care Benefits
• Reduced Workers’ Compensation / Disability
• Positive Perception in Community
• Decreased Turnover
• Improved recruitment for skilled employees
What is NOT having a Health Promotion Program costing your company? [...]
Wellness Programs : Hidden Legal Risk for Businesss.
For most firms, voluntary benefits are a win-win arrangement. But there could be hidden risks.
On the positive side, voluntary benefits cost employers next to nothing, yet increase employees’ morale and benefits satisfaction. An Aon survey found 77% of organizations offer at least one voluntary benefit.
But what happens if there’s a legal dispute between one or [...]
Wellness Programs : What’s a Health Promotion Program?
A Health Promotion Program is an organized wellness program to assist and support staff in establishing healthier lifestyles. This can include increasing worker awareness on health topics, scheduling behavior modification programs, and/or establishing business policies that support health-related goals.
Programs and policies that promote increased exercise, smoking avoidance and cessation, and healthy food selections are [...]