Corporation to charge employees for unhealthy habits
Categories: Healthy Habits, Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Motivation
When motivation fails, is punishment the next logical step? One Indiana corporation thinks so, and recently announced their newest "incentive" program to lower health costs. Starting in 2009, employees who fail to live up to BMI standards and other health benchmarks will be charged up to $30 per month. The program, says Clarian Health Partners, is in response to rising health care costs and too few employees taking advantage of company sponsored prevention services.
So if you were previously unmotivated to shed those pounds, stop smoking, or lower your cholesterol, would $30 a month finally urge you into action? Critics say that these sort of programs are punitive and raise privacy concerns, and could even lead to lawsuits down the road. What do you think? Too invasive? Or a necessary kick in the pants?
So if you were previously unmotivated to shed those pounds, stop smoking, or lower your cholesterol, would $30 a month finally urge you into action? Critics say that these sort of programs are punitive and raise privacy concerns, and could even lead to lawsuits down the road. What do you think? Too invasive? Or a necessary kick in the pants?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James 8-11-2007 @ 9:14AM
Well, the Army goes by BMI to determine if soldiers are overweight, but if they don't make it there's other methods of testing by measuring waist and neck line. There's ways to cheat that but if you're really obese no amount of "flaring" your neck and sucking in your gut will help.
Long as they don't go solely on BMI because it's flawed. For example, according to BMI men and women should weigh the same at the same height. I think that's wrong.
Also, according to BMI the taller you are the greater your disadvantage is. For example, if a 6'3 person is over 200 lbs they're overweight, but a 5'6 person can be 155 lbs and still considered ok, or a 5'3 person can be 140 lbs. Sorry BMI, but a 6'3 man that's less than 200 lbs is very slim, but a 5'6 women that's 155 lbs is pretty hefty.
Bodybuilders would never pass BMI tests. According to BMI, Arnold Schwarzenegger would have been horribly obese at a 30+ BMI when he won Mr. Olympia in the 70s, being 6'2 and 235 lbs.
I say test the same way the Army tests and set aside the first few minutes of every work day to exercise like i've heard they do in Asian corporations.
Another thing: does this mean they don't hire overweight people? Or do they hire them and immediately charge $30/mo?
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