Tax Credits for Work-site Wellness?

Photo Credit: Keuynish on Flickr.com

The US Congress is seriously considering a bill that will create tax credits or other incentives for employers who offer work-site wellness programs. The legislation allow employers to obtain tax credits for work-site wellness programs that offer periodic health screenings and counseling for obesity, physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, and depression.

For more information, check out the following article:
Congress Plans Incentives for Healthy Habits

This is very exciting news. For years now, many studies have been published showing that when businesses are willing to invest money to implement work-site wellness programs, they save money in the long-term. Healthy employees cost their employers less money—they miss less days of work, are more productive, and cost less in health-care fees.

Want to learn more about the economic benefits of employee wellness? Check out this recent blog post.

Or you can check out the research:
2006: Goetzel Ron Z; Ozminkowski Ronald J
What's holding you back: why should (or shouldn't) employers invest in health promotion programs for their workers?
North Carolina medical journal 2006;67(6):428-30.