Friday, May 30, 2008
Tweet[IWS] Watson Wyatt: REWARDING HEALTHY BEHAVIOR to SURGE among EMPLOYERS [29 May 2008]
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Watson Wyatt
Employer Use of Financial Incentives to Reward Healthy Behavior Expected to Surge [29 May 2008]
Companies Tailor Programs to Target Specific Actions, According to Watson Wyatt
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/news/press.asp?ID=19144
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2008 The number of employers offering workers financial incentives to better manage their health is expected to jump sharply next year, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm, and the National Business Group on Health, a national nonprofit association of large employers.
The survey of 453 large employers found that half currently use incentives to encourage their workers to participate in health improvement activities, such as smoking cessation or weight management programs. By 2009, however, that number is expected to leap to 74 percent.
"Some employees need a little extra inspiration to address their own health and develop healthy habits," said Ted Nussbaum, Watson Wyatt's director of group and health care consulting in North America. "Financial incentives can be a valuable investment that provides that essential push. And the payoff from improved workforce health and productivity cannot be overstated."
According to the survey, employers are using a wide range of financial incentives to promote healthier lifestyles from completing health risk appraisals to participating in health improvement and disease management programs. While the vast majority of employers are rewarding healthy lifestyles, 6 percent are penalizing employees for poorly managing their health conditions.
[TABLE]
And more...
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor---------------------- Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
Watson Wyatt
Employer Use of Financial Incentives to Reward Healthy Behavior Expected to Surge [29 May 2008]
Companies Tailor Programs to Target Specific Actions, According to Watson Wyatt
http://www.watsonwyatt.com/news/press.asp?ID=19144
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2008 The number of employers offering workers financial incentives to better manage their health is expected to jump sharply next year, according to a survey by Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a leading global consulting firm, and the National Business Group on Health, a national nonprofit association of large employers.
The survey of 453 large employers found that half currently use incentives to encourage their workers to participate in health improvement activities, such as smoking cessation or weight management programs. By 2009, however, that number is expected to leap to 74 percent.
"Some employees need a little extra inspiration to address their own health and develop healthy habits," said Ted Nussbaum, Watson Wyatt's director of group and health care consulting in North America. "Financial incentives can be a valuable investment that provides that essential push. And the payoff from improved workforce health and productivity cannot be overstated."
According to the survey, employers are using a wide range of financial incentives to promote healthier lifestyles from completing health risk appraisals to participating in health improvement and disease management programs. While the vast majority of employers are rewarding healthy lifestyles, 6 percent are penalizing employees for poorly managing their health conditions.
[TABLE]
And more...
______________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
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# posted by SBasefsky : 10:52 AM
