Author Archive
Wellness Programs : Worker Assistance Program Demand
For many staff members, telecommuting and flex-time are highly desired work-life benefits. But a growing number of corporations 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 have [...]
Wellness Programs : Tax Credits for Wellness.
In the near future, the federal government may offer help to corporations looking to begin a wellness program. The help would take the form of tax breaks to offset wellness program costs.
A current USA Senate bill would give employers a substantial tax break for beginning health promotion programs. Dubbed the Healthy Workforce Act, it calls [...]
Wellness Programs : When it comes to health savings accounts, you have to separate the hype from the reality. Among the big myths – a high-deductible plan with an HSA means lower premiums.
Truly, 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 finds.
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 and [...]
Wellness Programs : Health Promotion Program Risks.
When your business has this common – and increasingly well-liked – fringe benefit you could be at legal risk without even knowing it.
Some companies have an onsite employee fitness room as part of a formal health promotion program. Others simply do it as a way for folks to get their juices flowing before work or [...]
Wellness Programs : Hidden Legal Risk for Corporations.
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 improve employees’ morale and benefits satisfaction. An Aon survey found 77% of organizations offer at least one voluntary benefit.
But what happens when there’s a legal dispute between one or [...]
Wellness Programs : Why Do Sick Staff Members Come to Work?
In the last few years, “presenteeism” has become an even larger concern for many businesss than absenteeism. While many HR/benefits managers hate the admittedly overused term, presenteeism is nevertheless a real issue in nearly every workplace.
Most widely, presenteeism takes the form of workers coming to work sick. They’re unproductive and endanger colleagues. Meanwhile, the worker [...]
Wellness Programs : Wellness Programs and Ethnic Profiling.
In many segments of society, we hear about racial and ethnic profiling in negative ways. But what about when it comes to wellness programs?
When used for the specific purpose of beginning – or assessing - a wellness or disease management (DM) program, profiling isn’t just legal. It’s also encouraged.
Affects health risks
Different ethnic and racial [...]
Wellness Programs : Health Promotion Program Obstacles.
Almost two-thirds of companies with wellness programs offer employees incentives – financial or otherwise – to participate.
But only one firm in five has seen major improvement in employees’ health status (and lower costs) within two years of launching the incentive. Here are three keys to getting good results – and a red flag for failure.
Cancer [...]
Wellness Programs : Health Insurance Corporation Accountability.
Are your health care programs delivering on your vendors’ promises?
Just as importantly, how can you hold vendors accountable if you’re not getting what you paid for?
Here’s one proven way – Develop a provider scorecard. Scorecards alone won’t bring down your healthcare costs. But they’ll at least help make sure your business – and employees – [...]
Wellness Programs : Use of tobacco Bans Get Mixed Review.
At the end of the day, is it worthwhile to ban use of tobacco on the premises at your corporation?
It depends on the steps you take to support workforce attempting to kick the habit, finds a recent study . The Journal of Tobacco Policy and Research found that smokers do, in fact take more sick [...]
