EEOC's Proposed Rule Would Restrict Wellness Program Incentives

As more employers establish employee wellness programs, the challenges of these initiatives are coming further into focus. One notable issue is that, to pinpoint the health care objectives pertinent to employees and their dependents, programs need access to medical information.

Typically, this data is gathered using a health risk assessment. But many employees aren't inclined to submit to these assessments, or even participate in wellness programs in the first place. For this reason, many employers offer tangible incentives for participation.

Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) proposed a rule governing how far employers could go with wellness program incentives when gathering information on employee spouses. Although the proposal would provide some regulatory clarity, it may create confusion as well.