Incentives can be used to increase participation rates, help with completion of or attendance at programs, and to help individuals change or adhere to healthy behaviors. The purpose of the incentive is to encourage employees to adopt positive behaviors or maintain an existing positive behavior. Everyone who achieves a goal or maintains a behavior should receive something. Many organizations also provide incentives merely for participating in events.
Stay away from being the "best" or doing the "most." Encouraging people to be the best or doing the most promotes excessive behavior, discourages others, and creates elitism. The best designed incentive programs are ones which are based on achieving goals that are attainable by most individuals. Recognition, acknowledgment by top management, or special privileges are examples of excellent intangible incentives.
Here are some incentive ideas.
Free or Low-Cost:
· Certificates
· Movie passes
· Recognition in employee newsletter
· Mugs
· Water bottles
· Commendation from management
· T-shirts
· Hats
Moderate Cost:
· Entertainment tickets
· Sweatshirts
· Waist packs
· Subscriptions to health magazines
· Health and fitness books
· Videos/CDs/DVDs
High Cost:
· Week-end getaways
· Dinner for two
· Clocks
· Watches
