What's the WIFM in YOUR employee wellness programs?

A long time ago, a dear friend who eventually became my mentor told me, "Always remember the WIFM if you want to motivate people." WIFM, pronounced "Wiffim", aka "What's-in-it-for-me?" gets bounced around a lot these days in the world of incentives and motivation. In fact, you can observe WIFM's being negotiated in everything from parking tickets to keeping employees engaged in taking care of their health and wellbeing.

As health care reform continues to stir lively debates across the country, one thing that's difficult to dispute is that successfully executed wellness programs which foster a "culture of health" and provide incentives for employee participation lead to overall reduced health care costs for the sponsoring organization.

According to the 2010 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend survey, "In efforts to control health care costs, more plan sponsors are monitoring wellness and disease management programs and putting in place more meaningful rewards to boost personal responsibility for improving individual health".

So how do WIFM’s work for health and wellness programs?  They come in a wide range of options and run the gamut from the joy of losing 20 pounds to redeeming a gift card for the newest cosmetic containing the latest fountain of youth.

Providing incentives to employees for participating in wellness programs pays off.  In the 15th Annual Business Group on Health/Towers Watson Employer Survey on Purchasing Value in Health Care, completed in January 2010, respondents reported they provide financial incentives to increase participation in the following activities:

This survey also reveals that, "Currently,  53% of large employers offer financial incentives to workers who enroll in activities designed to improve health."

Take Dickenson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  It launched a wellness program in 2006 that focused on four key areas: physical wellness, nutrition, preventive health screenings and intellectual wellness. One of the benefits of participation in these programs allows employees to earn gift cards of varying amounts based on their level of commitment and participation  to accrue points. "Engaged" employees (100 points) receive a $50 gift card. In addition to the $50 card, "energized" employees (150) points and "elite" employees (200 points) are eligible to receive a cash prize drawing for gift cards of $250 and $500 respectively.

In addition  to the incentive, the competition helps increase participation and benefits for all. One of the real advantages of gift cards is that they address the broad variety of WIFM's out there from apparel, to electronics to healthy product choices.  Gift cards are easy to use and redeemable at thousands of retail locations and online sites. And for today's "I want it now" mentality, gift cards provide instant gratification.

CVS/pharmacy can help your organization boost participation in your wellness programs. Whether you're looking to increase participation in health risk assessments, smoking cessation, weight management or any program designed to keep your employees healthy and fit, CVS has a gift card to motivate your employees.

So go ahead,  keep them healthy and give them the "WIFM" they want.

To learn more, contact us at:  www.giftcardpartners.com/cvs