NEW YORK — US employers have ratcheted up the financial incentives they offer workers to participate in wellness programs to a record $693 per employee, on average, this year from $594 in 2014 and $430 five years ago, found a report released on Thursday. And fewer employers are imposing penalties such as charging more for insurance if workers do not participate or achieve goals such as losing weight. However, the findings – from a survey of 121 representative US employers by Fidelity Investments and the National Business Group on Health – come as workplace wellness programs are increasingly coming under scrutiny. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission took legal action last year against three companies, including Honeywell International Inc., alleging their wellness programs violated federal anti-discrimination laws. — Reuters
