Wellness

Miriam George · April 2002

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 04-16-02 AT 06:44AM (CST)[/font][p]Do any of you have suggestions for "Wellness" programs that have worked within your company? We have spent a ton of money on our self-insured health plan the past couple of years, and want to attack this by doing more prevention things.

awilliams · April 2002

I think a wellness program is a great idea! In fact, I covered wellness progams in depth in our HR Executive Special Report: The H in OSHA Stands for Health. If you are a law center member you can access this report on this website. In addition, check out these two websites: The National Wellness Institute at [url]www.nationalwellness.org[/url], and The Wellness Council of America at [url]www.welcoa.com[/url].

Anne Williams
Attorney Editor

Rockie · April 2002

We have our own fitness center on site, but this is an expensive solution. You might contract with a local fitness center to give you a "cut rate" if so many employees join. A lot of them are willing to do this as this business is so competitive. You can even little contests for employees - give a door prize for the one losing the most weight in a given period of time - who had the largest drop in cholesterol, etc. You can make it fun. You will find that employees will start forming walking groups during lunch and eating healthier (well...sometimes).

Annie · April 2002

As I am a county employee, our Administrator has a somewhat different approach. All employees must exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day, three days a week, for an eight week period. This exercise must be documented, signed and witnessed and only "acceptable" forms of exercise may be used. In addition, each employee must participate in a "wellness" diagnostic program yearly, which includes height, weight, blood pressure, a blood test to determine cholesterol, etc, and a stress test. Women must have a pap smear and if they are over 40, a mammogram. Men must have the required prostate test. The punishment for not "participating"? If you do not fill out and turn in the exercise sheet you are required to pay 5% more toward your insurance cost. No "wellness" physical? 5% more. Total cost for "non-participation? $56 per month plus our current insurance premium. To the county's credit we do receive a cut rate at the local gym/rehab center, and the county will pay a portion of Weight Watcher's, stop smoking programs, etc. The real problem is that so many employees dislike being "told" what they must do that they fulfill the barest minimum requirements, refuse to visit the health club and won't attend the smoking class, etc. Some of these employees exercised regularly before but have stopped because they are angry their choice of exercise is not "acceptable" (country line dancing was big for a while, and was really exercise for those of us who were not graceful, but it was not acceptable. Neither is horseback riding) Although there are some good ideas within this program, I would advise not to push or require employees to participate, or you will alienate them, they will refuse to cooperate, and any benefits will be lost.

Don D · April 2002

I can't imagine that someone hasn't challenged the legality of Annie's employer's program. I can envision a discount rate for certain situations, but can't envision requiring and mandating things like an exercise program and in the absence of such, imposing a financial penalty? I would like to see one of the attorney's response to this.

Rockie · April 2002

I daresay this would be challenged and won in a court of law If this program is mandatory, I hope those that participate get compensated for it or you will have a DOL claim. I've heard of companies getting incentives and breaks from insurance companies from having fitness centers available on site, but I've never heard of employees being penalized for not partaking in exercise programs. Another item - hopefully, a fitness assessment is given and signed off on by either an exercise specialist or a physician in order for employees to undertake such a program. This is another liability waiting to happen if the employer requires this exercise without certification. Even though we have a fitness center/rehab facility on site for patients (cardiac facility), and our employees can use for free if they choose to, they still have to be signed off on that they are safe to partake in the exercise program.

Need to tread carefully here.

Wellness

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