IncentiveFox has outlined how employers can use gift cards and other rewards to encourage participation in employee wellness programs. Its April 2022 guidance places incentives within a wider plan covering workplace conditions, health assessments and the needs of individual employee groups.

The company recommends understanding what motivates staff before selecting rewards. Its examples include cash, gift cards, additional paid time off, prize draws, electronics, healthcare discounts, gym memberships, meals, flexible hours, workplace amenities and company trips. It says employees should understand both the purpose of the activities and the rewards available for taking part.

Participation is central to the approach. IncentiveFox urges employers to encourage involvement without a forceful approach and to adapt programs to their workforce, location and wellness priorities. The rewards are presented as options for employers to consider within that planning process.

The workplace recommendations extend beyond rewards. IncentiveFox points to noise, lighting, air quality, food options, opportunities for exercise and regular breaks. Its ergonomic examples include standing desks, supportive seating and monitor stands, alongside time away from screens.

The guidance distinguishes biometric screenings, which measure physical health indicators, from broader workplace health assessments. It describes surveys, workplace visits, benefits information and healthcare claims as inputs that can help an employer understand its workforce before developing a program. It also says workplace screenings should not replace visits to an employee's healthcare provider.

IncentiveFox cites the 2014 Willis Health and Productivity Survey's finding that 74% of employers offered biometric screenings. It presents potential reductions in healthcare costs and improvements in productivity as reasons for employers to develop wellness programs, with the choice of incentives shaped by their own staff and workplace.