by Paul Gibson
Home >> Healthy, Wealthy and Wise
Sound interesting? Did you say, get paid to quit smoking? If you are one of the many readers who heard about this and had to pinch themselves to believe that this was true, read on. This is not only a reality for thousands of workers in the United States but an actual business practice that is becoming commonplace in many cities around that country.
Multinationals like IBM are heading the charge. These companies are convinced that they are not only encouraging their employees to be healthy, but obtaining solid results: healthy, happy workers are more productive!
No mystery there. But there is a hidden benefit that you may not think of when it comes to Spain. Spain has a national health service, whereas America doesn’t. So the cost of healthcare, which is shared among everyone in Spain, is a major expense for American multinationals which offer their own company healthcare plans. While employees continue to live healthier lives, the savings for these businesses in healthcare costs is formidable.
According to the Center for Disease Control, healthcare costs are an estimated $75.5 billion each year. Meanwhile, lost productivity costs businesses an average $92 billion – a fact which may be more relevant to businesses here in Spain.
IBM estimated that unhealthy workers cost them anywhere from $250 to $300 in healthcare expenses and absenteeism each year. Their solution? IBM decided to literally “put their money where there mouth is� and gave out approximately $130 million in cash in 2003.
How about a weight loss program that truly pays! That’s exactly what Caesar’s Entertainment offered their employees… a weight loss contest among teams of four to five employees. Each team member was in charge of encouraging and keeping track of the others weight. Winners received $500 for each member of the winning team.
But it’s not all about money. Employees are now living healthier, longer lives and feeling good about themselves. So maybe the benefits outweigh the costs for your company as well. Let’s see who is the daring employee who puts together a proposal…
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Posted on http://www.weeklyletter.com at 2007-03-13 11:00:00 +0100
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This is a rant.
I don’t think we should pay anyone to stop smoking. For heaven’s sake, workers are adults and if they think that risking amputations, heart disease and death is an okay thing to do, so be it.
What utter nonsense to treat smokers as if they are mentally deficient! Instead of offering them money, try another tack.
BOSS: Hey, Maurice.
MAURICE: Yes, boss.
BOSS: You know we need intelligent and healthy people here? People who can concentrate without needing to rest for five minutes every hour? People who don’t deliberately make themselves ill?
MAURICE: Sure ,Boss.
BOSS: You know, people who don’t smell like ashtrays, people who stay at their desks and don’t leave the building without getting permission first?
MAURICE: Of course.
BOSS: Here’s the deal, Maurice. Quit smoking.
MAURICE: Or?
BOSS: There is no ‘or’, Maurice.
You wouldn’t expect your company to give a special payment to a crack addict, would you? Or that guy in Accounts who has high cholesterol? What about the one in Personnel with the eating disorder?
Give me a break. You go to work to work. Health issues? You have doctors. Use them.
Well Dónal, you obviously were not part of the committee that passed this proposal were you? :-)
The problem is exactly that – people are using the doctors and going on doctor’s appointments all the time using up valuable company time… to say nothing of the possible extra payments for disability. People are the most valuable asset a company has, how can you afford to NOT invest in them?
As far as I know, there is nothing worse than an ex-smoker…I rest my case respectfully.
:-)
Paul
Donald,
I really believe you do not have such an extremist position. You like to provoke us :-)
I share with you the idea that workers are adults but let’s give a chance to those who do not act like them….
See you,
Nuria