Incentive - August 2008 - (Page 8)

IN THE NEWS Las Vegas Marketplace PAGE 10 The Encore Suites Tower at Wynn Las Vegas, opening in December, is just one of The Strip’s many new or expanding gaming properties Corporate Concierges PAGE 14 Companies are hiring help for their overworked staff A Healthy Showing New survey shows rise in healthy incentives and expanding rewards BY ALEX PALMER Incentivemag.com’s Question of the Month T he number of U.S. employers using incentives to promote employer-sponsored health and wellness programs rose from 62 percent to 71 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a recent report. The survey, conducted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Industry Committee, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and IncentOne Inc., also reflects the fact that employers are offering incentives for a range of healthy behaviors. ERISA is the law covering pension plans for private industries’ employees. Titled “Employee Health & Productivity Management Programs: The Use of Incentives,” the survey looked at 225 major U.S. companies (representing 7.6 million employees) that offer in-house health services including disease management programs, on-site clinics or nurse coaches to work with employees. The report also looked at employer expectations for return-on-investment of health and wellness programs. It found that 83 percent of those who have measured it are seeing program returns of “better than break-even.” “The conclusion to be drawn here is that if you’re a large employer, you’re already providing health programs, but now you have been, or are at an increasing rate, providing incentives,” says Michael Dermer, president and CEO of Lyndhurst, N.J.–based IncentOne. Besides an increased usage, responses revealed a wide range in the value of incentives offered for a host of different programs. Those awards—which ranged from cash and premium reductions to gift cards and merchandise— continued on page 12 H a s y o u r c o m p a n y tried to ex t e n d i t s incentive program(s) to offices in foreign countries? RESPONSE Yes, we run a similar program across our offices in multiple countries Yes, but our programs vary significantly from one country to the other No, but we hope to in the near future No, and we do not expect to any time soon Not applicable—we do not have offices in foreign countries Visit INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL to weigh in on the month’s question % . . . . . . . . . .20% . . . . . . . . . .10% . . . . . . . . . .10% . . . . . . . . . .15% . . . . . . . . . .45% 8| Incentive | August 2008 | incentivemag.com http://Incentivemag.com http://INCENTIVEMAG.COM/POLL http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - August 2008

Incentive - August 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
In the News
Cover Story: Amgen and Avnet, a Pair of Fortune 200 companies, are taking two very Different Approaches to Rolling out a Global Recognition Program
Incentive Interview: Author, Speaker, Professor, Refugee; Steve L. Robbins’ many hats have led him to ask, “What if ... The World isn’t as We Think It Is?”
Case Study: Rudi’s Organic Bakery Found that an incentive trip with a Strong Social Responsibility Component Works Wonders
Gift Card IQ
Banking on Relationships
Corporate Comics Make Serious Points
Incentive Primer: Tom Miller
Gas Incentives Rev Up
Legal Ease: Pitfalls Beyond Taxes
My Turn: Airline Frequent Flier Programs
Travel News: Where To Go and What To Do
Amalfi Coast: A Classic Italian Destination
Hong Kong: The Original Chinese Incentive
Ireland: South, East, West, and Now North
potentials Here and Now
Electronics: Top Tech Trends
Luxury Goods: Exceptional Awards
Corporate Gifting: Rules and Ideas
Excite and Incent: Spot Rewards
Advertiser Index
Off the Cuff: Hollis H. Malone

Incentive - August 2008