When Cash Incentives Backfire Wellness

Only when we expect the madness to pay for health behavior change slowly fade, new clients remind us ... again. They create elaborate reward system depends on the activities of individual health records for the whole year.If you are a long time reader of the journal Health Promotion, you know some people believe giving money to participate in health activities myopic to say the least. Here's why: Money spent on bills, fast food, gas, and other consumables. When it is gone, there is no visible reminder of accomplishments. Over time, the cash incentive is seen as part of the normal compensation. 

The first year it was a new thing ... chance for a bit of extra money. But then there is not much motivation to do more, and the money is expected. Once in place, it is difficult to change the system without disturbing anyone as this, nothing more demotivating than money out of your pocket. So if the program does not work, you have to up the ante to get them to buy in. Difficult to recognize or celebrate the prize money and profits without making some people think slighted.That should be enough for any HR executive or manager health wise to confirm that this is not the way to choose. However, the story of an incentive $ 100 to produce 99% participation in this or that thick - reinforces the idea that high participation is important, the shortest route is to pay it.But, cash incentives have a higher risk: do the opposite behavior intended: gift too small. 

People do not mind if you make important when manipulating them. But if a small reward their best to ignore it and look at all the businesses that appeal to the importance of healthy habits such as not sincere at worst. Award is too large. Money becomes the focus, not the behavior, so that individuals internalize ever good health is its own reward. If the gift is lost or reduced (as is almost always the case), ends with good behavior. There are other generous incentives are sometimes accompanied by supervision / strict accountability. But it can create an atmosphere of distrust and sullen employees.In a perfect world, you would have a culture that values ​​individual responsibility of health and welfare support opportunities to all employees and for them and the organization. Inject money into the system only confused the issue - and can actually interfere with your ability to improve human health.