While “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is still a great general approach to well-being, employees’ needs have evolved to include more comprehensive whole-health support.
Workplace well-being programs now play a crucial role in promoting a healthy and thriving workforce. They contribute to a positive work environment, reduce health risks, and boost productivity — a win for both employees and employers. Lower healthcare costs are also a benefit. A recent Anthem analysis found that comprehensive well-being solutions resulted in a $58 per member per month savings.
Forward-thinking employers should consider employee benefits and well-being programs that address fundamental areas to improve overall health. For example, Anthem’s Wellbeing Solutions program helps your workforce focus on three key areas:
1. Preventive Care
Wellbeing Solutions offers a range of engagement packages encouraging your employees to schedule annual exams, vaccines, and screenings that can help them stay healthier — steps that can even be lifesaving. This includes things like:
- Annual wellness exams
- Flu shots
- Eye exams
- Yearly mammograms
- Cholesterol screenings
2. Condition Management
Employees often need extra support to manage ongoing conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, heart disease, or heart failure. Access to dietitians, health educators, and pharmacists through the Wellbeing Solutions program can help them learn about and effectively manage their condition — while receiving incentives for screenings and routine tests along the way.
3. Overall Well-Being
Wellbeing Solutions also provides access to helpful resources like an employee assistance program (EAP), emotional well-being support, wellness coaches, steps tracking, interactive tools, and videos employees can view at their leisure. They also can receive monetary rewards for completing healthy activities.
Why Offering Incentives Matters
People are often motivated to accomplish something if there is a reward for their effort. From getting a T-shirt at the end of a 5K race to earning a monetary bonus every year at work, different incentives appeal to different people.
Offering incentives that are simple and appeal to all individuals are key to employee adoption and engagement. An Anthem internal study found that employees with incentives are:
- 3.8x more likely to have completed their annual wellness exam and receive a flu shot than those with no incentive.
- 1.4x more likely to participate in condition management programs than those with no incentive.
Here are just some of the ways employees can earn incentives through Anthem’s Wellbeing Solutions program:
- Preventive care activities like wellness exams and flu shots can earn employees $25.
- Condition management like a diabetic foot exam or lab test, or a call with a well-being coach, can earn employees $25-$225.
- Extra activities such as taking a health assessment, tracking steps, and using an EAP can reward up to $60 per activity.
More robust incentives are available depending on your employee benefits and which level of the program your business participates in.
Including a comprehensive workplace well-being strategy in your employee benefits can help you retain employees, reduce costs, and foster a more positive work environment. By supporting and encouraging preventive care, condition management, and whole-health resources, you’ll be taking smart steps toward a healthier future for both your employees and your organization.