Wellness Programs : Health Promotion Program Incentives.

Incentives could be used to elevate participation rates, help with completion or attendance at health promotion programs, and to help person change or adhere to healthy behaviors.

The purpose of the incentive is to encourage employees to adopt positive behaviors or maintain an existing positive behavior.

Everybody who achieves a goal or maintains a behavior ought to receive something. Many organizations also provide incentives merely for participating in events.

Stay away from being the “best” or doing the “most.” Encouraging individuals  to be the best or doing the most promotes excessive behavior, discourages others, and creates elitism.    

The best designed incentive programs are ones which are based on achieving goals that are attainable by most person. Recognition, acknowledgment by top management, or special privileges are examples of great intangible incentives.   

Wellness Program Incentive Ideas -    

• Free or Low-Cost Incentives-     

   o Certificates

   o Movie passes

   o Recognition in worker newsletter

   o Mugs

   o Water bottles

   o Commendation from upper-level management

   o T-shirts

   o Hats

• Moderate Cost Incentives -     

   o Entertainment tickets

   o Sweatshirts

   o Waist packs

   o Subscriptions to health magazines

   o Health and fitness books

   o Videos

• High Cost Incentives -     

   o Week-end getaways

   o Dinner for two

   o Clocks

   o Watches

• Other Incentives -     

   o Cash

   o Gift certificates