GiftCard Partners Blog

As the country moves closer and closer to individual healthcare insurance requirements, Medicare and Medicaid are becoming pivotal in the American health care system. U.S. Medicaid and Medicare programs examine and implement health and wellness trends and incentives closely. Wellness incentives and healthy rewards are used in these programs to:

Corporate wellness programs are essential for improving employee health, reducing healthcare costs, and increasing productivity. But for these programs to be truly successful, they need more than just good intentions—they need the right kind of incentives. Research shows that offering meaningful rewards, or "carrots," can significantly boost participation and engagement in wellness initiatives. However, one-size-fits-all rewards may not be as effective as offering personalized options. Here are some fresh insights on how to incentivize employees and make your wellness program a success.

The answer for the slow, tired feeling at work used to be reaching for a cup of strong black coffee but for a well-known company in California the cure comes from something a little more natural, meditation. Meditation is a growing trend, not just with Google, but with several other big names like
of Twitter and Facebook that are making contemplative practices key features within their companies. “Across the Valley, quiet contemplation is seen as the new caffeine, the fuel that allegedly unlocks productivity and creative bursts,” writes Wired writer Noah Shachtman in his article
Enlightenment Engineers. You don’t need to be a company as large as Google or Facebook to take advantage of this growing trend.
Yo-Fi Wellness is a company devoted to employee wellness and offers the latest in corporate wellness incentives for companies of any size. Meditation, yoga, fitness and nutrition are all offered on their online platform, bringing healthy living initiatives to employees through inspiring and instructive video programs. Corporate wellness is directly related to a company’s bottom line so it’s important to find the best way to incorporate it in your organization. Set a tone of health with your employees. Whether it be through education, engagement or motivation with incentives, find out what works best for them.

Implementing employee wellness programs can save your organization money in both employee absenteeism and employee productivity, and can help control costs of health care benefits. Here are a few ways to ensure the implementation of your wellness programs is successful.
Make Sure the Program Is Comprehensive: Make sure your health and wellness programs focus on all aspects of employees' everyday lives. Build a community of wellness, focusing on every day areas of concern like exercise, healthy eating and stress management. Build community by creating an office running club, softball league or weight loss group.
Engage Employees: Center your wellness programs around results, while engaging employees into the program. Ensure employees set goals, whether they are weight loss related, fitness related, or focused on healthy eating (does anyone really 
need that 3rd cup of coffee?). On the other side, reward employees for reaching their goals, or for investing themselves in the program. Small rewards like small denomination gift cards to healthy retailers like 
GNC or CVS/pharmacy will be a treat for employees, showing them that their employer cares for their well-being and wants to help them down the road of healthy behavior.

Workplace stress is an increasingly common issue, affecting both employee well-being and company performance. According to the American Institute of Stress, job-related stress is the primary source of stress for American adults, with 83% of U.S. workers reporting stress-related symptoms. This stress not only impacts individual health but also costs American businesses a staggering $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, turnover, and reduced productivity.