Getting paid to get on that treadmill

Ministry Health Care in Milwaukee is hoping financial incentives do the trick.

The hospital and clinic network has seen a cost increase of about 8 percent in its 2008 health insurance premiums and expects a 12 percent rise this year.

But Michael Knitter, director of total rewards at Ministry, is hoping to shave up to 4 percent off costs thanks to a rewards-based weight management program the company implemented last year.

Workers who take part in the program will get $5 every quarter and $5 for every 1 percent of weight loss up to 10 percent per quarter, he says. Also, by participating in the program and agreeing to a blood draw and testing, they can take $240 annually off their premiums.

Cathy Young, a 50-year-old Ministry employee, signed up because she wanted to lose 20 pounds.

“I’m one of those people that when I’m stressed, I eat,” she says. She credits the program with helping her stay on track.

“They give you e-mail reminders every single day to do things like get up and walk around, or grab a glass of water rather than soda,” she explains. “It’s been a big help.”

So far, Knitter says, the program has been successful with a 40 percent participation rate.

But during the latter part of 2008, the hospital saw an actual increase in weight gain among workers because of stress related to the bad economy. “That quarter was when the economy was tanking and people were losing money in their 403(b)s and 401(k)s,” he says. “Now we seem to be on track.”

Stressed-out employees
The recession has caused a lot of stress for workers, and some have seen their healthy habits go right out the window as a result. A recent survey from ZoneDiet.com found that 25 percent of Americans are turning to comfort food more because of the economy.

“Along with emotional eating, I am finding alcohol intake has increased considerably,” says Stephanie Middleberg, a New York dietitian. Many of her clients that used to have healthy food options at work, thanks to their employers, have seen most of those disappear.

Some workers whose companies offer few programs or incentives are taking matters into her own hands.

Judy Podvin, 45, a residential real estate agent from Howell, Mich., has gained about 10 pounds in the last year and says it’s partly due to the economic collapse that has hit Michigan hard.

“No one has any money, people are losing their homes, and half the deals don’t make it to the table even after months of work,” she explains. “It’s so depressing and stressful. You go home and feel sorry for yourself and wait for the next meal.”

She’s trying to eat better and has hired personal trainer Lori Wengle.

“I’ve only gone down 10 pounds and a size and a half, but I feel a million times better,” she explains. “It’s absolutely helped my jobs performance.”

Also in msnbc.com business Your Career: Think twice before giving the boss a gift Answer Desk’s John Schoen chats about unemployment Answer Desk: Repairing your credit rating Blacks fear path to middle class is blocked   Video: Consumer group call Zhu Zhu pets unsafe

MORE FROM CAREERS

Careers Section Front

Think twice before giving the boss a gift Overqualified, but happy to have a holiday job Your Career: Job fears fuel gossip at work Survey: Surgeons top list of stressful jobs Your Career: Can your name affect your career? Generation X is increasingly ‘whatever’ at work Your Career: More disabilities to be protected Workers may jump ship as economy improves Teacher shortage has given way to teacher glut How to handle criticism from the boss Careers Section Front   Add Careers headlines to your news reader: