Getting more out of wellness perks

What benefits does your company wellness program offer? It’s worth finding out. Many employees fail to take advantage of perks like discounted gym memberships and financial incentives for staying healthy.

Studies show company incentives really can help you lose weight and get healthier. And the experience of workers at I.B.M. Corp., for instance, suggests that cash incentives can work in the real world. In 2004, the company introduced a rewards program encouraging workers to track their progress in healthful eating, exercise and smoking cessation. In return for making the effort and logging in their results, the employees earn up to $300 in incentives a year.