nd safety awareness. Emails, posters, and other forms of raising awareness will be used that remind employees of safety and health facts and tips. Weight control, smoking and alcohol cessation, stress management and managing blood pressure and cholesterol will be the primary high-risk aspects of this program.
The behavior modification aspect of a wellness and safety program is its central component. Those who are assessed as high risks where health is concerned will be offered assistance in helping control and modify their high risk behaviors (obesity, smoking, lack of exercise) through different methods. Classes will be offered through health experts hired by human resources to form classes designed to help employees with weight control, nutrition, smoking cessation, drug and alcohol management and stress control. Employees who attend all classes will be offered a voucher equal to 75% of the deductible on their medical plan as an incentive for participating. Insurance plans will be restructured to assign deductibles based on risk level assessment. Strong incentives and consequences need implemented for those who participate and those who do not. Studies show that raising awareness and detection of high risk levels are not enough to alter behavior, “Programs which focus on raising health awareness levels alter high-risk behavior, however, after 90 days, progress made by participants was significant compared to those who had not participated in the wellness program” (Reardon 4).
The trend in worksite wellness programs is being pushed by the trend for employers a
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