Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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I was fascinated to read in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that companies in America are now starting to make people pay more for being unhealthy. They are going to make them pay more for health coverage, and people with above a certain waist line might, for example, at the tyre company Michelin, have to pay as much as $1,000 more per year for health coverage. Some companies also require their employees to supply them with their body mass index, weight and blood sugar level and if they don’t do that they get higher premiums and higher deductions from their salary.
Companies are beginning to give up on linking benefits to good behaviour, because apparently offering people extra money to do certain things generally leads to people either trying to game the system or outright lie that they have done the exercise and now instead they have now set a baseline, when it comes to waist levels, of 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women and if you exceed that, you have extra money deducted from your salary. While some people say that this is illegal discrimination, the companies themselves say they are “wellness incentives”. The pharmacy group, CVS Caremark, is going to fine all staff $600 unless they supply the company with their body fat, blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels by the end of May. The survey points out that overweight workers in America take an extra 450 000 days off work a year, compared to healthy workers and that most of these rules are really designed to tackle weight. If the companies outright tackle the topic of weight, people feel discriminated against and so, as the WSJ says, “While companies can’t say it outright, many of their measures – such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure – are proxies of obesity.” I don’t see any of this happening in South Africa any time soon, but every experiment, if it is ultimately successful in another country, sooner or later comes to South Africa, so it will be interesting to see how such a sensitive experiment by these American companies works – or does not.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 18-Apr-13
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Comments
Henrietta said:
on Monday 22-Apr-13 07:40 AM
I honestly think this is unfair. Not all fat people or a waist above 40 means that the person is unhealthy. I agree with a lot of people that comment here that some overweight people are overweight because of medical problems, but then again there are the handful that is the way they are because of the food they eat. Look at that little girl Honey Boo Boo she is fat because of her mother and there was an article about that were they interviewed the mother and she told them that she doesnt want her kid to lose weight because they get money because of the way she looks and medical experts said that she is on a deadly diet because of the fatty food she eats for her age. Now that is another story. I agree with Caron, don't judge a book by its cover there can be various of reason for the weight and not necessary because they are unhealthy. I cant believe they can actually make this legal.
Tanya - The T said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 07:16 PM
I think the emphasis should be on the healthy living of the individual whilst taking into account the person's exceptional circumstances. Its not just cut and paste for everyone. That's why we are individuals in the first place. Thus you can't punish people for having a medical condition etc.
Cherise said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 02:40 PM
I think this is a great way to get people to keep healthy as everyone has stated ,yet Brumilde has a valid point some people are overweight from the effect medication has on them and cant be descriminated against, and too a certain degree that is a violation of your rights- as you human like the next thin person.
Lucretia said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 01:53 PM
I am against this completely. One should be measured, as always, on one's health and health alone. I know plenty skinny people who are sickly and then I also know a rather large lady who has absolutely no cholesterol/diabetes or any other problems other than the fact that she has a glandular problem hence her weight. If one is big, but healthy, why must they pay more than another who is thin and sickly? The question: is healthy vs unhealthy better than fat vs skinny???
moenisha said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 01:40 PM
I agree with Julie they are lazy and most of the time their legs are affected they should really just try to walk for 5min then slowly up the time and they will feel so much beter
Caron said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 01:30 PM
You really shouldn't judge a book by the cover. I for one suffer from hypothyroidism compounded by chronic medication which has the side effect of weight gain. The general perception, coming through in the comments, is that those who are overweight don't care about their health and wellbeing while not taking into account the persons circumstances. For instance, carbohydrates are filling and cheep and full fat cheaper than low or fat free, factors which promote a high intake to those who have limited financial means.
Just to say one is thin or slim certainly does not imply that they are healthy!
sheena said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 01:20 PM
I think its a good motivation for people to look after themselves. Although Brumilde has a point a lot people have different kind of sicknesses some which may make them put on weight and they cant control it.
Yolandi C said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 01:15 PM
If American companies are charging their obese employees more in health care premiums, surely this will affect the employees who smoke as well.
But nonetheless I think higher health care costs will encourage employees to get healthier because this will impact their wallets – people respond better or more effectively to losses such as penalties than to gains, such as rewards.
Edwin said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 12:33 PM
Albert Einstein was a slim man Brumilde, not sure your point about Einstein.
brumilde said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 10:50 AM
What a load of rubbish. So will the company pay them extra to eat healthy and pay for gym?what happens to people who have a thyroid problems? Who monitors them. On one hand magazines tell us to love our body and on the other hand we get critized if you put on weight. i don;t think people ever wondered if Albert Einstein was overweight or had a waist of 40 inches?
Angelique said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 10:11 AM
Such a sensitive topic especially to many woman - weight. I like the idea mainly because I'm not obese so it would only benefit me and motivate myself not to lose myself and become obese. Very interesting, I would like to see if this works and if it is allowed and not a violation of one's rights. Clearly the fat people will become unemployed.
Simone said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 10:04 AM
Such an interesting read. I agree and I think it is a brilliant way to keep people healthy. As soon as you bring money into the question people will work harder at looking after themselves.
Benita said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 09:46 AM
This is a very good tactic to motivate people to loose weight
david said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 09:39 AM
fat people must be taxed too!!!
Alexis said:
on Thursday 18-Apr-13 08:37 AM
I agree - honestly if you are too idiotic to take care of yourself you have a problem and if you need to be penalised for it then so be it - I know a lot of people will disagree - but this generation is bad with taking care of itself and are too lazy to do so as well
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
