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Incentive Coercion

Meaning

Incentive coercion describes a situation where the value of a reward offered for participation in a health or wellness program is so substantial that it effectively removes an individual’s genuine freedom of choice, creating an implicit pressure to participate. In the hormonal health domain, this ethical concern arises when significant financial penalties or rewards tied to health metrics compel employees to disclose private health information or undertake specific medical interventions against their preference. The core issue is the compromise of the voluntariness principle.