Writing Resources
Should People Be Paid to Stay Healthy Rising healthcare costs and increasing rates of chronic illness threaten the future of the U S healthcare system In fact the average cost of employee health care makes up 7 6 of a company s annual operating budget and its only going up As health care costs rise an increasing number of employers are using financial bonuses or penalties to promote healthy behavior and reduce healthcare expenses Many employers offer financial incentives that range from cash payments to discounts on health insurance premiums Some corporations such as Dell and Clarian Health are directly punishing or rewarding employees behavior for changing unhealthy behavior Early reports indicate that direct financial incentives can effectively motivate employees to change their behavior but employers are facing backlash from people who claim this to be highly unethical I completely agree In fact I think that these programs should be completely abolished
