Kid Stuff: In the first program of its kind in the nation, IBM
employees will receive $150 in cash for enrolling their children in wellness
programs. Beginning in 2008, the Armonk, New York-based company will launch its
Children’s Health Rebate, a cash reward given to employees who participate in a
12-week online program aimed at tracking a family’s exercise and eating habits
and health status, the company announced last month. IBM says it does not have
weight-loss targets or exercise requirements. Children get gold stars for
reaching their milestones.
In 2004, IBM became one of the first employers to introduce
wellness incentives for employees. Since then, the company has invested more
than $130 million in its efforts. IBM offers employees rebates in three other
wellness programs: smoking cessation, exercise and weight loss, along with
filling out a health risk appraisal. Employees can earn a maximum of $300 in
cash rebates. Nationwide, one-third of children are either obese or at risk of
becoming obese, according to the Institute of Medicine. About 65 percent of
adults are either obese or overweight.
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