Improving Employee Health & Increasing Performance
In today's competitive workplace, the performance of employees is crucial for the success of any organization. However, what if I told you that one of the reasons for underperformance could be related to the physical or mental health of employees?
Healthy Babies, Happy Moms: Family Wellness Incentives
In 2011, Cumberland County, NJ, grappled with an infant mortality rate of 8.9 per 1000 births, attributed to missed prenatal doctor's visits. To combat this, the county initiated the Baby Love program, incentivizing prenatal appointments with gift cards. This initiative aimed to ensure the health of both mothers and babies, especially in areas with limited access to proper prenatal care.
Fast forward to 2024, the program has evolved, integrating innovative strategies and partnerships. With updated statistics showcasing the program's impact, insights into its effectiveness have emerged. New initiatives, such as universal newborn home visiting programs, complement Baby Love, fostering comprehensive maternal and child health.
Parallel to corporate wellness trends, where incentives drive healthy behaviors, Baby Love aligns with health and wellness initiatives like office weight loss programs. The CVS/Pharmacy Select Card, designed for health and wellness, exemplifies the synergy between corporate and community health efforts.
Workplace wellness programs play a crucial role in fostering a culture of health-consciousness and proactive healthcare engagement among employees. By promoting healthy behaviors and providing incentives for participation, these programs not only improve physical well-being but also empower individuals to take charge of their health. This empowerment extends beyond the workplace, influencing employees to prioritize regular medical care, including prenatal checkups. By instilling a mindset of preventive healthcare, workplace wellness initiatives encourage individuals to seek timely medical attention, address potential health issues proactively, and adhere to recommended healthcare routines. In this way, the efforts of workplace wellness programs contribute to not only the overall health and well-being of employees but also to the broader community by promoting a proactive approach to healthcare utilization.
As communities embrace collaborative approaches to health, sharing experiences becomes pivotal. Have you participated in similar programs? Share your insights and experiences in the comments.
For more information on Cumberland County's Baby Love program and its journey, visit here.
Another Example of Employee Wellness Rewards
Greg Williams, employee of MeadWestvaco Corp. in Richmond, VA likens his pedometer to his American Express card, because he never leaves home without it. It is a big part of his companies employee wellness program, which helps him lose weight and gain money in gift cards (he has accrued about $800 in rewards so far). To find more information about this program, or other similar programs check out this
article.
Businesses Ramp Up Wellness Programs
Wellness programs are a fantastic way for businesses to monitor their employees health, and control health care costs. 84% of employers and health plans across the country have at least one wellness program, and 91% expect to have wellness plans in place within the next 12 months, according to a survey conducted by the Continuum Care Alliance. At TeamHealth in Tennessee employees are offered significant rewards including $50 quarterly health care credits for good performance on a health risk assessment test administered online. Wellness programs are gaining popularity because they provide results in conserving revenue for businesses. For more information on wellness programs and their expanded implementation click
here.
Judge puts NJ gift card seizure law on hold
Today, the Associated press announced: Trenton, N.J.: A federal judge has temporarily stopped the state of New Jersey with their plan to profit from money left on gift cards. The state worked to legally seize unused money on gift cards and travelers checks. The state's retailers would have been required to begin collecting the zip codes of gift card buyers starting today Tuesday February 1st, 2011. If this effort was not blocked and a gift card has remained unredeemed after two years, the state could seize the money left on the cards if bought by NJ residents. The Associated Press states : "The state expects to raise about $80 million from the unspent cards to help balance the state budget. New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, the New Jersey Food Council and American Express sued to block the law. A federal judge granted the temporary injunction on Monday pending a more detailed review." Are the details of this legal issue of interest to you? Visit Legalbytes.com for more:
http://www.legalbytes.com/2010/08/articles/promotions/gift-cards-in-new-jersey-its-complicated/ A perspective from NJ.com:
Should New Jersey cash in Aunt Betty’s gift to you?
