In Brief: Employer Groups More Focused On Wellness Incentives

A new study by Aon Hewitt concludes that many employer groups are relying on incentives to get their workers to participate in wellness programs.

The survey by the Illinois-based Aon of almost 2,000 employers with more than 2 million workers concluded that 51% provide incentives to employees who participate in programs meant to improve their health and wellness. And among those, 59% offer money incentives to their employees, up from 37% in 2011.

  A total of 58% also offer some form of incentive to their employees who complete lifestyle modification programs, such as to quit smoking or improve their diet.

The data strongly suggest that businesses are trying to grapple with increasing healthcare costs associated with diseases such as adult onset diabetes, which is almost always linked to obesity.

“Employers know that eight health  behaviors, including risks such as lack of physical activity and failure to complete recommended preventive screenings, drive 15 chronic conditions that lead to higher medical costs and increased absence from work,” said Stephanie Pronk, a clinical health improvement leader Aon’s health and benefits division. 

However, some disconnects between employers and employees remain entrenched. Although more than 80% of those firms surveyed supply a questionnaire to their employees to query them about their overall health, fewer than 10% offer an incentive to directly address the responses that are supplied.