Incentives make wellness programs more rewarding

Health and wellness programs are rapidly spreading across the nation to combat detrimental habits and encourage healthier choices. Wellness programs benefit organizations financially and boost office morale. Beyond their main purpose of promoting healthy lifestyles, a healthier workforce is also more productive, takes fewer sick days, and lowers health insurance premiums. In an ideal world, everyone in your organization would want to participate in wellness programs for their own good health and well-being. But the reality of human behavior is that most of us need some kind of extra incentive to do what’s good for us.

At the current pace and workload of an organization, finding efficient ways to engage employees is increasingly difficult. When that engagement requires a drastic lifestyle change toward better health and well-being, employees need more compelling incentives. Gift card incentives allow employees to set their own goals and choose their reward.

That’s why linking an incentive to your wellness programs creates a powerful and effective partnership. As the fuel that powers wellness programs, gift cards are becoming more popular in recognizing employees’ progress and commitment to a healthier lifestyle. The right incentives can generate interest in a wellness program, encourage people to participate, and then drive their success by rewarding each goal they meet. Often, the freedom to choose can be as empowering as the reward itself.

More effective incentives

But what makes an effective incentive? A key factor is something incentive industry professionals call “trophy value” — a perceived value of the reward that reminds recipients of their success. An award certificate hanging on the wall is nice. But a flat-panel TV hanging on the wall is something a recipient will enjoy using year after year; a constant token of his or her achievement and a positive reminder of the success of your wellness program and company.
Another factor is the ability to give recipients a reward that really means something to them.

This is one reason why gift cards have grown so incredibly popular in recent years. At Best Buy®, we say that our Gift Cards are “a more rewarding incentive.” When someone gives you a Best Buy Gift Card, they’re essentially opening the door of a Best Buy store and saying, “go get something you really want.” It’s hard to be disappointed by an incentive you select for yourself.

As in any program launch, strong communication is the key to surpassing goals. Offering desirable incentives and frequently showing your support must occur together in a wellness program. The incentive itself and the added encouragement that you provide complement each other and increase the possibility of success.

Wellness programs themselves suggest the kind of incentives you might offer. A Best Buy Gift Card, for example, can be redeemed for wellness-related rewards such as fitness equipment, yoga and Pilates accessories, pedometers and activity monitors, even MP3 music players or active-participation game consoles. Rewarding progress with this freedom to choose shows your appreciation and admiration for the recipient.

Once a goal is reached, reward your employees with gift cards that accentuate the joy of leading a healthy life. The possible rewards of a Best Buy Gift Cards help recipients connect and share easily with family and friends, fitting perfectly into any wellness program. Whether capturing a moment with a digital camera or sharing that moment on a new laptop, your employees will be repeatedly reminded by whatever they chose with their reward. The continual gratification can motivate them to achieve more in the future.

Incentive opportunities

When you consider all the different aspects of a comprehensive wellness program, you’ll find many opportunities to put incentives to work. Weight loss and smoking cessation programs are highly goal-oriented and prove to be ideal situations for offering incentives. Participants might receive a reward every time they reach their own goals, whether they lose 10 pounds or quit smoking.

The value of the incentives can also increase as participants meet progressively higher goals. Filling out health surveys, committing to a healthier commute, or inspiring others to participate demands various levels of incentives. Gift cards match the goal with an equally valuable incentive.

The intensity of smoking cessation or fitness programs requires more compelling incentives. Offering Best Buy Gift Cards doesn’t just let your employees decide how to reward themselves; it inspires them to take their own path to a healthier lifestyle.

Incentives may also work well to encourage enrollment in health clubs and insurance programs: Sign up for your insurance benefits and you’ll be registered in a drawing to receive a gift card. Hospital HR departments use incentives such as gift cards to reward the successful completion of training and safety programs. Birthdays and service milestones can also be recognized with gift cards.

Health clubs can drive membership or encourage commitment to weight loss programs with gift cards. After joining, gift cards encourage members to stick with a program and continue leading a healthier lifestyle.

Practical matters

Whatever incentive program you choose, its logistical requirements should not overwhelm your ability to manage the program.

We designed Best Buy Gift Card Incentives to be easy to give and easy to use. That means you can order Gift Cards online, in any quantity and denomination from $5.00 on up. Best Buy fulfills orders quickly and offers multiple shipping options. “Easy to use” means that Best Buy Gift Cards have no expiration date, no dormancy fees and the cards retain their full balance until used.

Wellness programs are a great employee benefit — once you get your employees to participate. The right incentive program can boost wellness participation and retention, which improves your whole organization. Combined with your support and motivational techniques, gift cards are the right incentive for launching and maintaining a wellness program.