Study: Commercial Apps, Rewards Programs Linked With Increased Activity Levels
As smartphone technology advances and wearable devices become more ubiquitous, many wellness programs seek to utilize fitness tracking apps and tools to monitor and offer incentives for physical activity. However, it can be difficult to gauge how inspiring (or discouraging) this is for users and whether or not it has a substantial impact on people’s health habits and activity levels.
Long Live The Water Cooler Conversation: One Shortcoming Of Remote Work
What is often considered a harmless distraction for office workers may actually be providing some long-neglected wellness and productivity benefits. As more and more jobs offer remote work options, the daily social ritual of small talk or “water cooler conversations”—and any benefits they might be carrying with them—seem to be fading fast.
EEOC Announces New Rules For Wellness Program Incentives
On June 11, the EEOC voted in favor of a proposed rule regarding incentives in employer wellness programs. This new proposal clarifies the level of incentives employers may legally offer in their wellness programs that encourage the disclosure of medical information from employees, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Study: Tobacco Cessation Programs Need More Than Behavioral Interventions
One of the most substantial ways to improve employee well-being is by helping them quit smoking through tobacco cessation programs, which often include behavioral interventions. However, research suggests that behavioral support on its own may not be enough, and using medication in conjunction with behavioral interventions can significantly improve the success rates for quitting.
Amazon Sued Over COVID-19 Employee Safety Concerns
For many employers, it isn’t just health fears or financial concerns alone that are driving their return-to-work policies. Some worry about legal risks, should a worker become sick or a spread of the illness begins in their workspace—and it appears such concerns are not totally unreasonable.
CDC Releases Reopening Recommendations For Office Spaces
Communities across the country are in the process of lifting restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. For white-collar workers that have largely been able to perform job tasks remotely, companies have been less eager to get back into their office space. Still, as these reopenings progress, more businesses are setting up new health and safety protocols for their office spaces.
Survey: Only Half of Americans Plan To Get Coronavirus Vaccine
Community leaders are hopeful that a COVID-19 vaccine may help facilitate an easier and quicker transition back to normal life. Still, many more wonder about the safety, effectiveness, and impact of a potential immunization. A recent survey reflects that, for most Americans, only about half plan to receive the vaccine, should one become available.
Google Announces Remote Work Plan
As COVID-19 restrictions loosen, companies are looking at a combination of government guidelines, health advice, and employee preferences to build their return-to-work strategies. Just recently, Google sent out an email to employees about how the tech giant plans to handle the transition through a “gradual, phased approach.”
Study: Wellness Programs Improve Employee’s Health Beliefs, Not Clinical Outcomes
Researchers at the University of Illinois conducted a two-year study on the efficacy of workplace wellness programs. Coupled with previous research, their results seem to suggest a less-than-perfect impression of how effective wellness programs can be at reducing costs and providing measurable improvements in workforce wellness. However, it is important to distinguish what is and is not being measured in the studies.