workplace wellness programs -worthwhile?

[shootingstar]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/up...abt=0002&abg=0

What do you think?
I work for an employer that does have a defined health and wellness program. No, we don't have a financial incentive (ie. to become healthier). In fact, the employer encourages strongly each major business unit has a voluntary wellness ambassador who attends bimonthly meetings, passes along upcoming events, programs if interested. The volunteer employee has to be allowed time by supervisor to participate in these simple activities..probably about 1 hr. per month.

In the end it is up to the individual to put to practice, but having such a corporate program does cultivate some general awareness, even a cultural shift among some of our business units, to consider their personal health in general.

We even have a volunteer employee who offers and does provide free salsa dancing once a wk. during lunch in our building. It's his own initiative but having the corporate culture that encourages some level of healthy exercise...makes it easier for him to even offer through his broad emails.. Other business units are not like ours that would be open to salsa dancing..especially by some male groups.