Employers really want you to be healthy.
So, they're offering you a carrot -- and a stick -- for staying fit and trim. Carrots may include smoking cessation programs, gym membership discounts, weight loss programs, personal health coaching and classes in nutrition or healthy living. Almost 74 percent of employers offering health benefits provide a wellness program, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 study.
The stick approach penalizes poor employee health. It springs from health risk assessments given by your employer. Employers may later raise your health insurance premium, change your plan or demand that you participate in, say, a smoking cessation program if you have health problems.
"There's been a whole evolution in thought by employers," says Rosen. "Health risks carry consequences."