Employers can pay workers to track weight, exercise

(Bloomberg) — Employers can reward workers with as much 30 percent of the cost of their health insurance benefits in return for participation in programs to monitor weight, cholesterol and other wellness measures, the Obama administration said Thursday.

Many employers already have such programs, though there has been debate over how far they can go. While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allowed employers to increase financial incentives for employee participation, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under President Barack Obama has sued companies including Honeywell International Inc., arguing that they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

See also: Navigating wellness incentives