We believe that people are driven by incentives. Incentives provide additional justification for doing something whenever there is a shortage or lack of reward present. Airlines have their own incentive systems with miles and status. Credit cards use points that holders can redeem for rewards. Auto dealerships give cash back. In fact, just about every industry has embraced the power of incentives.
Wellness programs have long been the way employers have spurred their employees into better health. With these programs, employers reward those employees who exercise regularly, or quit smoking, or take educational courses, etc. The rewards are paid directly by employers. Companies are willing to take on this incremental expense because they know that a healthier workforce leads to much larger savings in healthcare costs and productivity gains. In fact, research has shown that companies with wellness programs in place can yield a benefit of $3-6 for each dollar invested in the program. Clearly it works!
However, there are a couple problems we see with these employee wellness programs. First of all, you have to be employed by one of America’s larger corporation in order to be part of the program. Furthermore, even if you are employed by one of these companies, the message seldom gets conveyed from the employer all the way down to the employees. As such, there is limited awareness of these programs. Finally, companies usually limit the value of rewards an employee can receive in a given year. This limit is generally around $350.
We are setting out to change that. We are building a company that will remove employers from the equation and allow anyone and everyone to receive benefits for leading a more active life. On top of that, we will not limit the value of rewards you can receive. If you earn the points and there are rewards you are eligible for, you can have them. With the company we’re building, you will be able receive thousands of dollars worth of rewards each year!