Transparency is extremely important to us, so we are letting you know that we may receive a commission on some of links you click on from this page. See our disclaimer.

As wellness continues to represent a significant element of companies' benefits and health plans, Optum reports that they see “an overall commitment to wellness, an evolution in the types of incentives employers are using and increasing interest in changing the work environment to encourage healthy choices.”

Some highlights:

• “Commitment to wellness: Despite the sluggish economy, more than three-quarters of companies expect to maintain or increase their wellness program budgets. And 40 percent project that their budgets would increase over the next three years.”
• “Evolution in incentives: More than three-quarters of companies offer some type of incentive. But rewards like giveaways, discounts and cash are losing popularity, while health account contributions are gaining steam. And, while it’s currently common for companies to reward for program enrollment and completion, many are considering incentives for achieving a health outcome or making progress toward a specific health goal.”
• “Attention to the work environment: One-third of companies are already making physical changes to their workplaces in an effort to influence healthy decisions among employees. The top three changes companies have made are creating a smoke-free campus, providing healthier vending machine options and offering healthier entrees in the cafeteria.”