Corporate Wellness Incentive Plans

Every workplace will have workers who won’t participate in provided workplace wellness activities. But these same workers may be following countless healthy practices in their daily living. A good wellness program must give these individuals credit and recognition for their good work.

Recognition of healthy goal setting and goal performance is a wonderful approach for reinforcing what individuals are doing on their own outside of work, and for reaching those who don’t like group activities. Suggested steps for individual objectives and recognition include:
• A form staff members can fill out which includes the set objective(s) and a target date for completion.
• Information on setting realistic goals, as people often overestimate what they can do and by when. It’s great to remind workers “baby steps” count!
• Maintain a confidential file of the submitted employee objective forms in a dated “tickler” system.
• Send a reminder to each employee at the time of each participant’s goal date. This reminder could be a copy of their original goal form. Ask for employee’s feedback regarding their goal(s): completed the goal, need an extension, or have discontinued the goal.
• When the form is returned from an employee:
   1. If an employee has completed the goal, a certificate of completion is received along with a prize or incentive item linked to the goal (if possible).
   2. If the employee renegotiates the deadline or the objective, the form is re-filed for future follow-up. Continue to encourage the employee.
   3. If the intention is canceled, send a note acknowledging this “good try” and promote the employee to try again when the timing is right.
• Allow those interested in this process to set goals and objectives any time and as frequently as they want.