Incentives may be used to increase participation rates, help with completion or attendance at wellness programs, and to help individuals change or adhere to healthy behaviors.
The purpose of the incentive is to encourage personnel to adopt positive behaviors or maintain an existing positive behavior.
Everybody who achieves a goal or maintains a behavior should receive something. Many organizations also provide incentives merely for participating in events.
Stay away from being the “best” or doing the “most.” Encouraging individuals to be the best or doing the most promotes excessive behavior, discourages others, and creates elitism.
The best designed incentive programs are ones which are based on achieving goals that are attainable by most individuals. Recognition, acknowledgment by top management, or special privileges are examples of great intangible incentives.
Health Promotion Program Incentive Ideas –
• Free or Low-Cost Incentives-
o Certificates
o Movie passes
o Recognition in staff member newsletter
o Mugs
o Water bottles
o Commendation from upper-level management
o T-shirts
o Hats
• Moderate Cost Incentives –
o Entertainment tickets
o Sweatshirts
o Waist packs
o Subscriptions to health magazines
o Fitness and health books
o Videos
• High Cost Incentives –
o Week-end getaways
o Dinner for two
o Clocks
o Watches
• Other Incentives –
o Cash
o Gift certificates
