Chris Morehead's article "Employer Wellness Programs
Get Clarification" was featured in Vancouver Business
Journal on June 19, 2015.
It's no secret that the Pacific Northwest is a hub for
outdoor enthusiasts and individuals leading (or trying to lead) an
active lifestyle. That's why the new set of rules on employer
wellness programs proposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) is worth the attention of Washington
employers.
Most people understand that a "wellness program" is
designed to encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles, often
focusing on eating "better," exercising, quitting smoking
or even just completing a health risk assessment to help figure out
what their next steps should be. Employers have a huge incentive in
seeking healthier employees in their workforce because a healthy
workforce means reduced healthcare costs. As these programs have
become more popular, employers have expressed concerns about
implementing them for fear
