Is it time for an e-cigarette policy? The pros and cons

By Christian Schappel

The next big change to your employee policies may need to come from the latest smoking cessation fad: the use of electronic cigarettes. Chances are, if they haven’t arrived already, they’re coming to your workplace … soon.

So now’s the time to consider your organization’s position on the devices and whether or not they can be used on the job, inside your facility and/or around co-workers.

Click here for entire article.

6 Things Employees Want From Health Plans

November 30, 2011 by Christian Schappel

Good news: Employees admit they are willing to do more to improve their health and become better healthcare consumers. They also admit they understand wellness programs can help them get healthier and hold down costs. But here’s the rub:

Employees want some extras from employer-provided health plans before their attitudes and actions change about health care.

Recently 3,000 consumers (employees and their dependents) were polled by Aon Hewitt, in conjunction with the National Business Group on Health and The Futures Company to assess their perspectives, behaviors and attitudes toward health and wellness programs.

Click Here for the top six things respondents said they need from their employer-provided health plans and the full article with links!

Tip Tuesday! Wellness: Use of incentives (and penalties) climbing - because they work

October 27, 2011 by Christian Schappel

Between 2009 and 2011, the use of financial rewards in health management programs increased by 50%. Meanwhile, the use of penalties increased by more than 100%, according to a new study.

The numbers show employers are starting to quickly warm up to the idea of penalizing workers for not participating in wellness programs — or not meeting certain health goals.

The findings are from The Towers Watson/National Business Group on Health Staying@Work study of 248 U.S. companies. 

A year from now, four in five companies expect to offer some type of financial reward for wellness/health management participation. But more surprising, the use of penalties is expected to double again (this time, in just one year) — with 38% of companies planning to use them in 2012, compared to 19% today.

What isn’t a surprise is why so many employers are using financial incentive/penalties to drive participation: They work!

Check out these stats:

• Among employers offering financial incentives to take health-risk appraisals, employee participation rates are 46% on average — compared to 19% at companies not offering incentives
• Participation in biometric screenings for those giving out cash to take them is 45% — compared to 25% for those keeping their wallets closed, and
• Participation rates are low for all disease management programs designed to deal chronic conditions at 14%, but providing financial incentives provide a slight bump in participation rates to 16%.

For the complete article and links Click Here.

Employers can play critical role in battling childhood obesity

By Lisa Gillespie August 29, 2011

With the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States nearly tripling over the past 30 years, now is the time for employers to take the lead in the battle against the growing problem of overweight and obese children, according to the National Business Group on Health.

Obesity is a growing epidemic affecting children, their families and the nation. The United States currently has the highest percentage of overweight youth in its history. More than one-third of children in the United States are considered overweight or obese, leading to increased health risks, higher health care costs and decreased parental productivity at work.

“Child obesity is impacting employers today and will into the future as these children become the workforce of tomorrow,” says Helen Darling, president and CEO of NBGH, whose members include 329 large U.S. employers. “Parents have an enormous impact on the childhood obesity epidemic. The good news is that employers can play a critical role in fighting the childhood obesity epidemic by helping families develop healthy lifestyles at work and in the home. In fact, a number of forward thinking companies are already leading the charge.”

A recent survey of 83 of the nation’s largest companies conducted by the National Business Group on Health identifies the following programs employers have in place to help fight childhood obesity:

Click Here fore the entire article and more details.