HHS, Labor Survey to Ask Employers About Wellness Programs

The departments of Labor and Health and Human Services say they plan to conduct a survey that asks employers to evaluate their wellness programs.

The survey is intended to “assess the effectiveness and impact of workplace wellness programs, as well as identify best practices and lessons learned in program implementation with a particular focus on the use of incentives,” according to an HHS notice issued July 11.

The notice seeks Office of Management and Budget approval to launch the survey.

As part of the survey, 3,000 employers selected from a Dun & Bradstreet Inc. database will be contacted to assess the prevalence and types of corporate wellness programs, as well as the use of employee incentives. In addition, data collection will include employee focus groups and “wellness leaders” at four employers to provide in-depth case studies of those employers’ wellness programs.

The survey is to be completed within 18 months after OMB approval, according to HHS.

A survey last year by Hewitt Associates Inc., done before Aon Corp. purchased the consultant, found that 47 percent of employers either have or plan within the next five years to implement financial penalties on employees who do not participate in certain health improvement programs.  

Filed by Jerry Geisel of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, email editors@workforce.com.

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