Workers told to shape up or pay up

[RamboLiberal]

Source: LA Times

Looking for new ways to trim the fat and boost workers' health, some employers are starting to make overweight employees pay if they don't slim down.

Others, citing growing medical costs tied to obesity, are offering fit workers lucrative incentives that shave thousands of dollars a year off healthcare premiums.

In one of the boldest moves yet, an Indiana-based hospital chain last month said it decided on the stick rather than the carrot. Starting in 2009, Clarian Health Partners will charge employees as much as $30 every two weeks unless they meet weight, cholesterol and blood-pressure guidelines that the company deems healthy.

"At first, I was mad when I thought I would be charged $30 for being overweight," said Courtney Jackson, 28, a customer service representative at Clarian. "But when I found out it was going to be broken into segments — like just $10 for being overweight — it sounded better."

Jackson said she was going to try to slim down before the plan took effect. "If I still have weight to lose when it starts," she said, "I'll deserve to pay the $10."


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obese29jul29,0,6468472.story?coll=la-home-center

---

Bend over, here it comes. Who's to say your skinny coworker isn't more unhealthy than you. That they may eat a really crappy diet that has their arteries clogged and puts them at risk for diabetes! Another reason we need to go to national healthcare and get the employer out of our private lives!

And what the hell is with employees just shrugging their shoulers and go along with the benevolent employer!

[momzno1]

1. fuck this!

great, let's just screw the fat people.
grrrrrrrrrrr.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Next on the list:

anyone who has a preexisting condition either loses their jobs or has to pay $10 a week just so they can work. Next: Those who have a family history of, say, heart disease or diabetes or glaucoma or whatever must pay $10 a week because they might get what grandma had.

Why not offer a weight management/exercise class and charge the fees towards them? Then the fat folks are getting something for their money, and aren't just being punished for being plump. Oh, and the cafeteria better be offering healthy food for lunch. If all they have is greaseburgers.....

[OKthatsIT]

53. FEMA Fat Camps?

..."helping the stigmatized" is just UN-american.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

84. 'war against fatties'

forget the terrorists

[Newsjock]

3. There's a little thing called the Americans with Disabilities Act

and this won't survive one second of legal challenge.

Then again, we are in Bushmerica, so who knows.

[David__77]

9. Yeah, don't count on courts to stop this.

Presently, ADA would be the only thing to stop it, but the courts have not expansively interpreted it lately. It would be through political action resulting in legislative action that would stop this.

[Joe Bacon]

52. It's only a matter of time before the Whore Court junks ADA

They will rule it unconstitutional. It's only a matter of time.

[ThomCat]

10. If the courts don't finish gutting the ADA entirely.

:(

If this stands, and they can bill you because you have a condition that makes you more expensive to insure (overweight, high cholesterol) how soon until they are going to punish everyone with a medical history?

How easily could this become outright discrimination against everyone with a health problem or disability?
x(

[hack89]

37. Since when is obesity

linked to lifestyle choices a disability? Is there any case law on this? Just wondering what the legal precedence is.

[DumpDavisHogg]

4. Bend over, here come the lawsuits

Bend over, here it comes, all right. As in, here comes the lawsuits.

If the workers don't sue the living pants off their employers over this, then there really is something wrong with them.

Didn't the airlines lose a big suit about 5 or 10 years ago because they fired flight attendants for being overweight?

[Robbien]

5. Nice way to improve profits. Get the worker to pay it directly to the CEO

$30 bucks a week from a couple hundred employees is a nice sized bump to his year end bonus.

[Megahurtz]

118. Yeah If THAT Won't Make Ya Sick

I don't know what will. :puke:

[provis99]

6. And the worker quoted seems to blame herself

rather than realize she works for a shitty company. Sad, sad, sad.

[ThomCat]

11. Very sad, but that is how these assholes get away with stuff.

They get the victims to blame themselves. :(

[ProudDad]

77. Good working definition of capitalism

Get the victims to blame themselves for not being "good enough" at the game...

Fuck capitalism....

[Sam Ervin jret]

7. $50 week penalty on employers who are " &%$" " %&%$# " : STRESS LINKED TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

More health care problems could be solved by employers, and thus they're health care costs go down, if they would just treat their people as GROWN UPS, give them some dignity, some job security, some respect, and some #$@ %^&$ time off each year so they wouldn't have the blood pressure of a giraffe on a donut diet. They might even try sharing a bit more of the company profits with with them. I hear money problems cause STRESS !!!

[ixion]

34. stress is the biggest killer of all, and yet you don't here them talk about improving that

one bit.

Simply living in our society is wildly stressful, IMO. Stress (which can lead to gaining weight) is a ruthless killer that rips your body apart from the inside out.

It would be nice to see someone be concerned about that.

[Deja Q]

64. In our society, symptoms are treated as the actual problems.

;)

Stress can lead to weight gain.

Now look at the relevant stressors and see much much weight they carry, pardon the pun.

[iamjoy]

8. This Is Outrageous

Weight and body type are at least partially determined by genetics. This is not to say diet and exercise have no influence, but they are not the only factor. So, charging people extra for being overweight is penalizing some one for their genes. Pretty soon, we'll all have to submit DNA prior to be hiring and if your DNA shows a predisposition to certain diseases, you won't be able to get the job - or the health care.

[CC]

12. Well not like some of us didn't see

this coming. First it is drug testing, then no smoking even on your personal time, now overweight and pay extra. People have screamed that it would happen even though a lot of those same people did not get high or smoke. they were shouted down because both were bad for your health. When people are willing to give up a little personal freedom they usually end up losing a lot more of them.

[Sadie5]

13. Clarian=Greed

There is a brand spanking new Clarian Hospital near me and you can walk right into the ER and get treated. I bet they refuse service to anyone without insurance is the reason it is empty. I also bet that this gal who is gushing over the hospital charging her $10+ for her ailments don't really make much more than that per hour. The taxes are running wild around here and many might lose their homes due to the rise in property tax, yet Clarian pays no tax.

[Corgigal]

14. exactly right my dear CC

We knew corporations would slowly but surely creep into our lives inch by inch. No one really cared, because I don't do drugs or I stopped smoking years ago. We, the workers should have never let this happened because sooner or later these "rules" of corporate America will affect us all.

[Mojorabbit]

15. Well said! n/t

[Captain Angry]

19. Next stop...

Do you have pets? They create allergens...

Do you have children? They might come home from school with something...

Did you choose to live in the only part of town that you could afford to? Oh, I'm sorry, the air quality is so bad there, you are causing yourself health issues by staying there.

[depakid]

23. Yep-

and my bet is that many if not most of the people affected fully and unconditionaly supported Reagan and the far right when this kind of shit started back in the 1980's.

Hell, my guess is that many still do- and still would, so long as it's not their ox that's being gored.

[SoCalDem]

114. Exactly... this is why health care should never be linked to the employer

and why we will never have universal national health care as long as it's 'offered' by employers. It gives your boss total POWER over you. He/she literally can be in charge of whether you or a family member lives or dies.

The way we get our coverage here, pretty much means that your boss is just your "super-parent", and you dare not do anything he/she does not like, or your whole family could be without access to medical care.. THIS alone, is what's probably stressing many people out.. Many people work in jobs they hate, but they fear being without medical insurance, so they just keep "taking it"..

Jobs should be about employers paying a wage for getting a task done..and NOT about controlling an employee's personal life..

I don't really mind the drug testing, for some jobs..I mean ..if someone's job is to drive my kids to school, I kind of like knowing that the school district is not hiring someone who is a druggie...

If employers cannot "afford' to offer medical coverage, they should just stop offering it for everyone.. as soon as this starts to happen on a macro scale, people will start to take to the streets and maybe we can get the ball rolling on universal care.. as long as large numbers of 'chosen' ones still have their reduced cost or free coverage , nothing will change.

[ninkasi]

16. I knew this was coming

It started with smoking, and who ISN'T against smoking? It was very easy to be self-righteous about it, or so it seems to me, when reading various opinions. Now it's weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure. Some of that can be genetic. What's someone supposed to do, when they are not overweight, don't smoke, but still have high blood pressure?

What about people who drive dangerously, and are more prone to be in an auto accident? Are their rates going to be raised? What about sun worshipers? They might get skin cancer, should they be penalized? Alcohol abuse? There are many forms of behavior which involve taking risks, are we all going to be grilled about our every private act, so that we don't suffer the penalty of raising insurance rates? Are you single, and sleeping around? What about STDs?

Stress is one of the biggest killers, how will companies which overwork their employees, subjecting them to undue stress, deal with the resulting medical expenses? This is the reason we need the same kind of medical system enjoyed in the rest of the advanced world.

My mother, who never took a drink, smoked a cigarette, or was overweight, died at the age of 42 due to a pulmonary embolism. Looking at her statistics, she should have lived another 40 years. She had had surgery, though, and died three weeks later. Life can be capricious.

I guess I'm just tired of the grinding down of the American people, and the glorification of profit If there were not so very many layers of employees, and the enormous profit to be paid to CEOs and shareholders, perhaps our health care expenses would be more reasonable. We would probably all be healthier as a result.

[bbgrunt]

41. this is how they gradually weed out those with "inferior" genes

and produce a super race....only so far it seems innocent enough because after all, it is about the costs of doing business!

[Deja Q]

73. A logical possibility.

I bet Britney's children won't qualify.

[UncleSepp]

69. That'd suck for my family

I am sorry to hear about your mom. :-(

My mom would be in the first group to have to pay extra, too. She's physically very active, goes to the gym almost daily, eats a very healthy, low-calorie diet, and is still overweight and diabetic. I guess she made the poor lifestyle choice of having the wrong genes.

I'm in one of the other groups. At age 16, at barely 100 lbs, actively weight training, eating a mostly vegetarian diet designed for heart health (my dad's), I had dangerously high cholesterol and was told by a doctor to "lay off the cheeseburgers". Other than taking statins and all the problems that go along with them, I can't do anything to lower my cholesterol. It's genetically high. I guess that was my poor lifestyle choice, too.

[alarimer]

17. Just one more reason we need universal health care NOW

If the companies are not paying the premiums there is not legitimate reason for them to do this.

What about HIPAA? Does your employer have a right to know your blood pressure or your weight? It seems like it's against the law for them to have that information anyway. Anybody know?

[DeSwiss]

18. Workers need to GET IN SHAPE DAMMIT!!!

Like, like.... well this guy ---->

[Captain Angry]

20. You said workers. No fair comparing them to the CEO...

Now that they can get their health care paid for, for life, as part of their signing bonuses...

Ask Ken Lay, Enron bought him and his wife annuities that would pay them a bag of money every year until they die. And that isn't considered a seizable or freezable asset.

[Deja Q]

32. Is that a chin, or is he growing a field of potatoes inside his gullet?

:hide:

[Buns_of_Fire]

125. Think "Jabba the CEO"... (n/t)

[mitchum]

76. That man really does look like a hog (my apologies to hogs)

[AndyTiedye]

122. Now THAT'S a RePIGLickin!

[killbotfactory]

21. If the employees can do their job, it's none of their goddamn business

If they want to reward employees for getting in shape, that's one thing.

Charging them $30 bucks a month? That's bullshit. Sounds like something Wal-Mart would try and pull.

[Gormy Cuss]

87. Using carrots is better than using sticks.

Unless your job is one of the limited set of occupations where physical fitness is a mandatory requirement it's none of your employer's business, but since we have employer-based health insurance access companies know that employees will put up with all sorts of horse shit in order to keep it.

[raccoon]

100. I agree, Gormy, that " Using carrots is better than using sticks."

However, IME employers would rather use the stick. It's easier for them.

Also, many employers still think bullying and intimidation is the way to manage employees. :puke:

[harpboy_ak]

22. About time! I'm tired of paying for the lazy

I'm sick and tired of my insurance premiums going up because of other folks who don't keep their weight down by exercising and eating healthily. It's about time smokers, heavy drinkers, the lazy and obese pay more, since it costs more to care for them --- they get sick more often, have more chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and strokes.

You don't have to be rich to eat decently, you just have to stop buying all the prepackaged garbage the commercial food processing industry flogs on TV and buy and cook your own food with less salt, sugar, and fat and with more vegetables and fruit. You don't have to be rich to exercise --- all it takes is bicycling or walking instead of driving for short distances, taking stairs instead of elevators, walking at lunchtime instead of sitting, or a basketball or tennis game at your local park or school gym.

I'm tired of paying higher health care premiums for obese couch potatoes that stuff themselves with high carb high fat junk food. If they want to live that lifestyle, they can pay for it themselves.

(edited for minor change to first sentence)

[depakid]

24. I'm tired of paying for ignorance too

So I guess it's about time for all of the people who don't understand (or misapply) economics- or have never read anything from the Enlightenment to stand on their own.

Looking forward to watching all those "rugged individualists" and "moralists" have a go.

[TheWatcher]

25. I'm tired of ignorant people like you approving of and enabling fascist nonsense like this

Land Of The Cowards Home Of The Slaves.

When they finally come for you, it would be a shame if someone actually spoke for you.

[Deja Q]

33. Sadly, he DOES have a point. Surely we all need to do our part?

Trouble is, when one doesn't do their part, others follow. And if we're supply-side economics (aka 'trickle down'), doesn't said problem start at the top of the chain? (e.g. executives, what the media promotes and who is paying to make the messages that tell us to eat crap food...)

Not to mention the lengthy rush hours combined with sit-at-desk-all-day job.

There are MANY factors involved.

[bbgrunt]

42. The biggest part of what is driving health care costs is

the large number of uninsured people who must still get health care in hospital emergency rooms (which accounts for insured people being charged $40 for an aspirin) and the need to pay profits to shareholders and huge CEO salaries.

We are all too willing to accept the blame they shove down our throats. "We must do our part" strikes me as the kind of argument that they throw at homosexuals when they deny that homosexuality is anything more than a choice. I don't really believe that people choose to be unhealthy. Anger and stress incapacitate people. Little by little, they start to self medicate with food. I am sure many people choose to deal with stress differently--some go mountain climbing and sky diving. Some collect weapons and claim they are their babies. I'm not sure that is any healthier Ultimately those with poorer health will die earlier and reduce the pressure on social security and the costs of health care associated with the high costs of diseases, dementia, and incapacities associated with extreme old age.

And you can see it doesn't stop with weight--now they also claim cholesterol is your own choice. While cholesterol can be moderated by eating habits and drugs, those options don't work for a lot of people. Many of these drugs induce long run kidney and liver disease. I guess we are like cattle or other cash crops. Bulk them up with drugs and then dispose of them. I sometimes think that the medical and pharmaceutical industries are now trying to actually shorten lifespans. There is some evidence to suggest this is happening---one way to get rid of all the useless eaters and reduce the burdens of social security.

[ohio2007]

50. I think the drug industry and the comercials they run on TV share a large burden

pushing drugs to doctors and get healthy people thinking they need these drugs is not helping either

Ask you doctor if "Evian" is right for you.....
.
...WARNING,
taking 'evian' daily has been known to cause sudden death or drowsiness at work.....

[bbgrunt]

54. I like that--"Ask your doctor if Evian is right for you" haha.

[ohio2007]

62. oh, you caught my backward subliminal message .

....you should still consider laser eye surgery ...........it may be right for you

lol

[Deja Q]

65. A valid argument as well.

But like my own GP had said, when I became interested in an exercise program and wanting to lose weight, he applauded me and said I am in the minority (e.g. most people just don't care about losing it.)

The truth is in the middle.

[bbgrunt]

70. I assume by middle you mean the waistband.

[Deja Q]

72. Nope. Philosophical; both sides having some validity in their arguments.

No pun was intentional.

[It was not a pretzel]

26. whoa

glass houses and shit. Wonder what health problems you might have or get it the future.

Ignoramus

[Le Taz Hot]

35. Really?

Well, my dear, I rarely eat pre-packaged food. Rarely go out to eat and rarely choose fast food when I do. Been doing this for 30 years. We live in America's fruit basket and eat TONS of fresh fruits and veggies. In fact, they make up about 80% of our diet. I even can my own fruits and veggies. We get lots of exercise everyday. I was well into my 30's before I hit 100 pounds. Then menopause hit and I gained a lot of weight. And you know what? Same thing happened with my mother. And my grandmother. And my great grandmother. So I'm thinking that all of this middle-aged weight gain is genetic. Ya think? And how does one battle genetics, oh wise one?

Your post really is one of the most ignorant posts I've ever seen on DU.

[feminazi]

58. the old menopause curse!!

I feel your pain. I watch what I eat, exercise 5-6 times a week and my weight never goes down. I never had a problem before so it's frustrating as hell.

:hi:

[Mountainman]

40. I can't wait for the day you need some kind of help from another person.

It will come some day, believe me. Today you are up but someday you will reverse rolls with those you say you have to pay for. Will they be willing to pay for you when you need it? You are building up quite a reservoir of negative karma.

[arikara]

55. Ah, to be as perfect as some...

You pay higher insurance because you don't have a national plan. Here in Canada, we pay the going provincial rate. I think BC charges the highest at $48 per month. Low income proportionately pay less whether they are fat or skinny, smoke or not.

[ProudDad]

78. RIGHT!

and don't forget to be born with the right genes while you're at it :sarcasm:


What a republican sounding post... :puke:


How about you do something positive like call your congresscritter and demand HR676 be passed??

[WindRavenX]

91. yikes

That's all I can say about this post...wow...

[AndyTiedye]

95. Thank You for Playing

You don't have to be rich to eat decently, you just have to stop buying all the prepackaged garbage the commercial food processing industry flogs on TV and buy and cook your own food with less salt, sugar, and fat and with more vegetables and fruit.

Because EVERYONE has a couple of extra hours a day to spend in the kitchen. Yeah right. And fresh veggies are so cheap these days. :sarcasm:

You don't have to be rich to exercise --- all it takes is bicycling or walking instead of driving for short distances

Alas, short distances are a rarity in much of the USA.

taking stairs instead of elevators

I have noticed that a lot of stairs in high-rise buildings have an unfortunate tendency to lock you in.
You can't get out except ALL the way at the bottom, and that may have an alarm on it.
I was in a hotel for the last week for a convention and it was really annoying how often I was forced
to take an elevator just to go 1 or 2 floors.

walking at lunchtime instead of sitting

Most of us sit at lunchtime because we are eating lunch!
Skipping meals is not generally a good weight loss strategy.

or a basketball or tennis game at your local park or school gym.

Only an option if you are good at basketball or tennis.
Those who are usually don't have a weight problem to begin with.
Team sports are great for keeping natural athletes in shape, but not so good for the rest of us.

Paradoxically enough, some athletes would actually be victimized by their reliance on BMI.
BMI makes NO distinction between fat and muscle.
Body builders are almost certain to be branded as "obese" if only BMI is measured.
This could also be extremely unfair to workers who do a LOT of physical labor and are very muscular as a result. BMI would brand them as "obese" too.
It could actually be dangerous for some of these people to attempt to lose weight, as their actual body fat levels may be very low already.

[ChaoticSilly]

97. What are these things called "lunch breaks"?

"walking at lunchtime instead of sitting

Most of us sit at lunchtime because we are eating lunch!
Skipping meals is not generally a good weight loss strategy."


I just wanted to add that some of us don't even get lunch breaks. For example, I've had a total of 2 lunch breaks since February.
Yes, I'm trying desperately to find another job, but that's a rant for another thread.

[Deja Q]

120. Seconded. On all counts.

[walldude]

124. How exactly does your insurance company get away with

raising your rates because the guy down the street eats a half dozen donuts for breakfast? Next you are going to tell me how those welfare queens are causing your taxes to go up. These are familiar arguments, I just can't place where I've heard them before.

[jordi_fanclub]

27. "Good" idea!

BTW, add some "health" technicalities:
Make that PROPORTIONAL to the SALARY too.
(and by "salary" I mean ALL the annual revenue, including options, etc.)


PS - This "wind" I can heard is only wind or is just the idea running at fast speed?

[unhappycamper]

28. FYI, this thread is listed at rawstory

http://rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2Fdiscuss%2Fduboard.php%3Faz%3Dview_all%26address%3D102x2933562

[Vinca]

29. This pisses me off because it makes one group of people more

"worthy" than another. Baloney. It's another excuse to bleed more money out of the average person. As another poster pointed out, skinny doesn't necessarily mean healthy. And here's another tidbit to ponder. Over the years, the "norms" have been lowered so more people suddenly have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Now, you have to wonder if $3+ a pill statin drugs (among many, many others) create an incentive for more people to be diagnosed as having a chronic illness. I repeat: BALONEY! I ignore them all. We're all going to die and if Grandma was a fat lady and lived to be 85, you probably will, too.

[ohio2007]

49. It amounts to a fat tax . Ronald MacDonald should be held responsible for this

MacDonalds should be taxed also. Even though they will pass the tax on at the drive through.
The world should boycott that crap they call "food"

/screed

[raccoon]

101. "skinny doesn't necessarily mean healthy." and some skinnies

have eating disorders.

Maybe they should pay extra too? :sarcasm:

That eating disorder is their own fault, right? :sarcasm:

[jody]

30. Military personnel must meet physical requirements or be discharged. I believe many law enforcement

officers and fire fighters face similar rules.

If one accepts those physical requirements, why not for other jobs?

[alarimer]

38. I've seen plenty of fat cops

So they apparently don't have to keep meeting those standards.

Most jobs don't require carrying people out of buildings, so why should you or I have to meet those same standards.

Do yo know how fucking hard it is to lost weight as you age? I've given up. I simply exercise a few times a week and if that isn't enough, well, fuck it. And that is also why there are fat cops. They have the same issues as everyone else: no time to exercise or eat right.

This is yet another effort by some employers to control every aspect of your life. It started with drug tests. And the people are so fucking desperate to keep or get a job they will subject themselves to it again and again. Your employer does NOT own you; they do not have the right to dictate everything in your life. More people need to tell these fuckers to go to hell. Actually we need much stronger unions to combat this kind of bullshit.

[bbgrunt]

43. we are being turned into farmed animals.

[ohio2007]

51. Then maybe we should ask our doctors if steroids is right for us?

"GM" doesn't stand for General Motors anymore

/sarc

[jody]

59. "no time to exercise or eat right" but time to recover from illness caused by improper diet and

exercise.

[alarimer]

71. Probably not that either

I cannot believe how fucking judgmental some of you people are around here. I dare you to say that to the face of someone who works 70 hours a week. Get off your goddamned high horse.

[jody]

80. My you are judgmental. Have a nice day. n/t

[raccoon]

102. The pot's calling the kettle black. nt

[LanternWaste]

116. Absolutely!

Absolutely! I had no time at all to break my arm, but plenty of time to recuperate from it. The nerve of some people!



:sarcasm:

[SomeGuyInEagan]

111. CPAs and cab drivers ...

... are not expected to lift a 200 lb., unconscious person over his/her shoulder and carry that person out a window and down a ladder within 30 seconds.

Physicians and cafeteria workers rarely are involved in foot chases or have to physically subdue a 180 lb. teenager who has been drinking.

Cashiers and plumbers don't often find themselves in a situation requiring them to haul 70 lbs. gun/ammo ten miles on foot through hilly terrain.

The jobs you cite are indeed special cases requiring fitness (not that BMI is an accurate indicator of fitness). Most jobs do not.

[LanternWaste]

115. Possibly because being generally fit is required for law enforcement work

Possibly because being generally fit is required for law enforcement work but not for many, many others?

I'm a typesetter by trade, and I'm trying to think of how bigger biceps would benefit my position in any way? Little help, maybe?

[Deja Q]

31. If the job was well paying enough and had future opportunities, I sure as hell would.

If the job paid shit and was a dead-end job, why bother?

Exercise is never EVER a bad thing, but the morale of Americans right now is really piss poor.

And before anyone says it, "get training for another field" is worthless when it's all being offshored anyway. Regardless of how much a person wants to get into the field.

[AndyTiedye]

123. The Darth Vader School of Personnel Managment Is Part of the Reason for Poor Morale

The employer in the OP prefers to PUNISH employees for being fat, rather than offer benefits that would allow them to lose weight.

Harpboy has a post that is actually full of good suggestions (for those in a position to do them),
but couches them in such hostile terms that he is being more hurtful than helpful.
Berating fat people for being fat is counterproductive. Trashing their self-esteem is likely to make them eat even more.
The medical profession has known this for years, yet now there seems to be this movement among them to do it anyway —
especially to kids, who are especially vulnerable that way.
They know better, but they are taking after the overgrown schoolyard bullies that have taken over our government.
Now some employers figure it's OK to pile on.

May those employers be run out of business by others with happier, more productive employees!

[sarcasmo]

36. Obese people are next on the list. Get ready for many Corporations to start pushing this.

First it was the smokers, and next it's the Obese worker.

[flvegan]

39. These employers have a good point, they just don't make it very well.

This wouldn't be a "bad" idea if there was a way to opt out of it. Additionally, employees with medical problems should be exempt from some of these benchmarks. It should also be implemented on a scale or percentage of improvement. For example, suggesting a severely obese man (say 400 lbs at 5'11") "get into shape" by 2009 is absurd. Also, these companies must also offer some sort of instruction. Nutrition classes, gym membership discounts, etc need to be provided.

The one thing I haven't seen expressed here is this: many employees also have their family members on their health plans. Will they be forced into this corporate fitness ideal as well.

Lastly, any corporation that bases their decision on that bullshit BMI is moronic and deserves to be sued.

[bbgrunt]

44. "employees with medical problems should be exempt from

some of these benchmarks"---wow. who would determine that? Once you cave and accept their framing of the issue, it is all downhill from there. Don't fiddle with their plan--REFUSE IT--because you will never win.

[ChaoticSilly]

98. I think "opt in" would be better

Something like those who need to lose weight, can and choose to participate put money into a pot which is given to the "winner" or a charity of the winner's choosing at the end of the month, though I'm not sure what standards could be used to determine the winner.

[Neurotica]

45. So are people going to be forced to medicate?

Is Clarian Health Partners going to require people to medicate to get their cholesterol and blood pressure down if they can't do it on their own?

That would be so wrong.

As a thin person with high cholesterol (and as the daughter of a dietitian), I would resent someone telling me that I need to medicate to get my cholesterol levels down further. In my case, my high cholesterol is most likely a hereditary condition, as my tall, thin mother who eats as she preaches has the same problem. By making some changes in my diet, I have gotten my levels down to a point that makes both me and my cardiologist comfortable for now. How could a company essentially interfere in that doctor-patient relationship and require me to take certain medications with all of their side effects and implications?

[YankmeCrankme]

46. I like this..."guidelines the company deems healthy"

The whole field of nutrition, medicine and health can't really agree about what is "healthy" or "optimal" and we don't know how all the interactions of food, exercise, weight, genetics, stress, age, etc. etc. work together or what effect it all has in totality, but Clarian corporate hacks will decide what is healthy.

[candice]

47. Why comply with employers? Decent jobs are not plentiful...

what does this country manufacture anymore? The world perceives our cuisine as McDou, and meat industry lobbyist still won't protect us from mad cow disease. The one company that was testing wasn't allowed to continue doing so.

If you eat meat, make sure that it was feed grass or organic grains (the latter is an unnatural diet, which requires more antibiotics be injected in the animal). Know the condition of the feedlot and slaughterhouse--it's up to us the consumer. Read Marion Nestle's book, "What to Eat," to find out how to protect yourself from the American food chain and to eat healthy in spite of it.

[Deja Q]

68. Excellent point.

[ohio2007]

48. Isn't that "SICKO" ?

Smoking is being outlawed throughout the nation.
in a decade o so, 'experts' will be dumbfounded at the reduction of smoking related deaths and hospital cost being diverted to other areas of care.

:truth

[conspirator]

56. HYPOCRITES! What about giving people more holiday and less working hours

so they can workout?

[Deja Q]

66. While being able to raise their families?

Like many people at the time, corporations were voting for the folks claiming to be "pro-family".

[Odin2005]

57. Creeping corporate serfdom...

[Deja Q]

67. You betcha. The more surplus workers there are, the less value we all are.

If we're being made dispensable, as you're suggesting, the least they can do is kill painlessly us without telling us.

The games and contradictions are a real load.

[raccoon]

103. Creeping corporate slavery, if you ask me. but what's the diff? nt

[Odin2005]

106. Serfs arn't owned by thier master, but still have to get permission from him to do things.

[lovuian]

60. just another reason for you to pay this health system has to

end its out of control

[bleedingheart]

61. I saw this coming...

first the smokers got charged extra for healthcare
next the rest of us are going to get lined up for whatever is "wrong" with us....

[Deja Q]

74. First the smokers, then the obese. Who be next?

[ohio2007]

81. Well, after tobacco maybe the alcohol industry will be scrutinized closer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT32fJzJ1zU&mode=related&search=

[Abacus]

108. No kidding

I'm a smoker and about 35 lbs overweight; I had lost much of that weight when I began biking to work but regained it on Lexapro. My wife has had absurdly high cholesterol levels since at least her 20s due to an inherited genetic condition and the side effects of statins make treatment intolerable.

That said, I must admit I find this a bit amusing... When they came for the smokers, many of us said that the fat people would be next -- I didn't think it would occur this quickly, but here we are. With 2/3s of the US adults being overweight versus 1/5 being smokers, this sequence of events was inevitable.

[Deja Q]

63. Do said employers ensure their employees can buy healthy food?

Everyone knows the cost of (lean meats) and (proper vegetables) has gone up; living on macaroni cheese is anything BUT healthy -- and whose empty carbs help make people obese too. ;)

[RamboLiberal]

89. Hell they are taking more money out of their take home

pay which means they will have less money to buy nutritional food or for a gym membership. Vicious circle.

[mitchum]

75. If it was fine for smokers and recreational drug users, it should be fine for the overweight

Frankly, I don't think it's fine for an employer to be meddling in the activities of any employee

[leaninglib]

79. Good idea. The American people have gotten way too fat!

Smokers pay more for health care because smoking is an unhealthy lifestyle choice. Being a fatty is also an unhealthy lifestyle choice.

Perhaps this will compel people to think before stuffing their faces with so much junk food.

[mitchum]

82. Yes, I already have to pay $50 a month because I smoke, despite...

the fact that I am in better shape and far more physically active than my flabby coworkers who do not smoke.

[ohio2007]

85. When I stopped smoking, I saved $180/mo. as the cost of tobacco

was going up up up for a two pack a day smoker like myself.
I suppose at todays price of a carton of smokes,I'm saving maybe $300/mo. Yes, I put on a few pounds but my kids should have me around, screaming my lungs out at them for a few more years.

The workplace and community laws have turned smokers into 3rd class citizens as you have seen. It really is rare for me to smell cigarette smoke anywhere I go now.

[tabasco]

83. Here's a good way to get in shape!

www.goarmy.com

Are you too busy fighting the "culture war" to fight in a real one?

Pathetic.

[ohio2007]

86. There is an even better way. Just say NO to 2nd /3rd helpings and increase

the salad intake at the "all you can eat" buffets. Drink "tap water" as opposed to a diet coke.

As for the army link, who's kidding who, there are people that weigh as much as a smart bomb. Cable programs talk about them while other shows invite them to be the biggest losers they can be. Those are the people that need real help not enablers.

[Deja Q]

90. I wish it was that simple, though I won't deny our 'McCulture' is partly to blame.

It's not all about junk food.

It's time.

And money.

It's depraved that junk food costs LESS than proper vegetables. Not the cheaper broccoli stalks, as those are worthless compared to the their florets.

And to think some people can afford to live on macaroni cheese; all that is carbs and makes people fat.

And many jobs have a person sitting there for the whole day. Before and after work is a needless rush hour commute; the remainder of the day toward house and family upkeep; it's not always easy for many to get exercise in.

Especially if people have to work multiple, crap-paying jobs.

Everybody needs to do his own part. That includes those who give out the jobs. And while I know the argument "Become a business and you'll see what it means", I also know that big box chains have been killing small biz for years. You bet the big box chains have responsibility in their workers too. Meanwhile, those with knowledge and loyalty get fired and the people brought in may as well be apes because they're no brighter (See Circuit City or Best Buy for an example or two...)

We're supposed to be a society. Which means we all do our part. It's not cherrypicking or blaming solely one side for all our problems. But it's not solely the fault of the working class; of which a lot of all this is a symptom of a larger problem.

The symptom is not the problem. The problem causes the symptom.

The way the world is going, no doubt some people stuff their faces with fat and filth in an attempt to die younger. I'm glad one coworker moved to a different desk recently; the whiner always brings in the most disgusting smelling fast food "meals". I'm amazed he isn't any fatter than he is. But there are people who eat a hell of a lot leaner and have weight problems too. It's not all about eating fat and expecting zero repercussions from it.

[raccoon]

104. See my post #99. nt

[Marthe48]

88. there's just no way to tell

Recently, a local doctor in her late 30's was found dead in a public swimming pool--at first it was thought she drowned, but autopsy revealed that she'd had a massive heart attack. My daughter knew her, and she said that all who knew her were stunned. She was the picture of health and lived a healthy lifestyle.

I imagine that working for jerkoffs who intrude themselves into their employees' lives will add a great deal of stress to the employees' lives and do more harm than overweight, BP or other health issues. The employers just don't want to have the responsibility of paying for health insurance.

***Hey young people--get as much money in your paycheck as you can--don't take promises from your boss--the money in your paycheck is real--the promises are like smoke and as likely to drift out of the picture--we're living that right now.

[Guaranteed]

92. This is why the study of genetics actually scares me a bit.

I don't see how this is any different than charging people with a particular gene more money for their health insurance.

The solution, of course, is single-payer healthcare.

[Endangered Specie]

93. steal $30 in office supplies to make up for it

:evilgrin:

[Popol Vuh]

94. This is just way over the top ridiculous

BTW, in general, are Republicans more over weight than Democrats are? An interesting aspect to a ridiculous proposal.

[radfringe]

96. but when employers are told to

provide a safe work environment and/or provide equipment to prevent repetative stress problems an/or address other work related health/safety issues -- they call the WHAAAAAAAAAAmbulance because it's too expensive and cuts into profits

[raccoon]

105. Well said! nt

[raccoon]

99. Slavery. Sell 'em south if they're not strong, healthy workers.

:sarcasm: and :puke:

Also, this doesn't take into account that some meds, and some medical conditions, cause weight gain.

[Deja Q]

119. I agree 100%

Some meds do cause weight gain and they sure as heck should take that into account.

[guitar man]

107. they need to talk to these folks

http://www.seiu.org/

[distantearlywarning]

109. This is crap. And it's fat stigma, not reality.

There are skinny people with bad cholesterol, and fat people with great blood pressure.

If they MUST do this kind of thing (highly debatable), then they should do it the RIGHT way, and give everyone a physical, skinny,fat or in-between. Then apply rates based on health profiles. If the employee has bad cholesterol, then give him an incentive to improve his diet. If the employee has high blood pressure, then give her a financial incentive to lower it - whether that means slimming down, eating better, exercising, or whatever.

[underpants]

110. Stating the obvious-this is the same reason for smoking bans

Insurance rate cuts.

[Scout]

112. if an employee's health is causing absenteeism, then address

the problem with THAT employee ...

otherwise, fat or not, if i'm at work doing my job right and on time, then they can go fuck themselves.

i used to have a "skinny" co-worker who lived on coffee, cigarettes and junk food ... she looked nice, but somehow seemed to be really stressed or something, 'cuz she was ALWAYS sick either the day before or the day after a paid holiday....

[SoCalDem]

113. Well..lah-dee-dah..

Imagine a world where only the "beautiful young" people will serve you.. No fatties need apply..

Need blood drawn? Need to make an appointment? Want your hospital meal brought to your room? Need clean sheets?

Never fear.. a delectibly slim, trim and gorgeous young thing will be there to serve you..

the "pay for your sins from your paycheck" is just the first step, folks..

After a time, these people will either quit because they cannot afford to have their paychecks docked, or because they get tired of being dragged into the "principal's office" every week to be weighed and scolded...or if they don't "get the message" and quit, they will probably be forced to sign some binding contract that allows them to be "let go"...sans worker's comp or unemployment benefits..

this is about "cleaning house"...not about their "health"..

there are more people who want jobs, than there are jobs, so this is the perfect time for companies to devise new and interesting ways to change employees..

[Megahurtz]

117. That's Really SICK.

Any excuse just to charge money. It's the Corporate American Way. :sarcasm:

God this place is getting worse by the day.

[Deja Q]

121. It's a good thing we're offshoring.

I mean, with no future to look forward to, why should anybody even try to get fit for any jobs remaining? Fit for a slave?

/cynic

[MiserableFailure]

126. It should be body fat % and not weight measured

I'm 6'2" 175. I have 8% body fat. A friend of mine is 6'2" 150, he is a stick. His body fat % is almost unquestionably higher than mine because he is flabby. People should not be penalized for working out and having more muscle. I used to be more into lifting and was 6'2" 205. I was not even close to fat, my waist size was 33 inches. But I would be considered overweight and therefore out of shape under Body mass index guidelines.