More U.S. companies using rewards and penalties with employee health programs
Rising health care costs are prompting an increasing number of companies to encourage participation in employee health management programs through financial incentives and penalties, according to new research by Towers Watson (NYSE, NASDAQ:TW), a global professional services company, and the National Business Group on Health.
The 2011/2012 Staying@Work survey of 335 midsize to large companies found that the use of financial rewards increased by 50% between 2009 and 2001. By 2012, four in five companies plan to offer some type of financial reward to individuals who participate in their health management programs.