Hold on a Minute

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751613416930917231.post-78638341172021417862008-05-19T16:32:00.001-04:002008-05-19T16:34:55.135-04:00Hold on a Minute(This posting is a continuation of my last blog “Watching Your Figure, Your Boss May be.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>While employers are trying to take steps to make sure they can afford to offer health insurance, workers are skeptical. In a national survey of 30,000 employees by Hewitt Associates, just 12% think that their employers should be telling them how to stay healthy. However, there has been little to no pushback from employees about anything, says Peter Cappelli, director of the Center for human resources at the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:placename st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>’s Wharton school. “In many cases, employers can ask their employees to stand on their heads and they’ll do it,” says Cappelli.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>Overall, there seems to be little resistance from employees as they are increasingly asked to undergo medical screenings and full blood tests on themselves and their spouses. Instead, employees tend to gravitate towards work sponsored wellness programs. The Hewitt health survey, which included 500 companies, found that 88% of employers plan to make significant investments in these wellness programs in the next three to five years. This is up from 63% just a year ago.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>Weight is the greatest focus. For those who have a body mass index greater than the national standards, health coaches are often available to give advice and monitor a weight-loss plan. General Mills has established a wellness mission statement that is distributed to employees: “We would like every General Mills employee to have an active lifestyle, a healthy weight, and a normal cholesterol level, normal blood pressure had to be a non-smoker.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>Tim Crimmins, the company’s vice president of health and safety at General Mills has created hard to miss opportunities for employee fitness. Their offerings range from dodge ball and cross-country skiing, two small group meditation, classes on portion control and a choice of whether or not to participate.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>While some companies are getting it right, other companies are clearly getting it wrong. Clarian Health Partners in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Indianapolis</st1:place></st1:City> bumped into resistance when the healthcare system tried to launch a program for its 13,000 employees that fined people up to $30 per pay period if they didn’t meet certain health standards, including weight loss targets.<o:p></o:p>Clarian redeemed itself by removing the penalties in the face of employee outcry. In its place, Clarian implemented an incentive program that rewards people each pay period for meeting certain thresholds, like $10 extra each paycheck for meeting the standard for body mass index.<o:p></o:p> In my next blog I will talk about the limitations of the workplace health movement.<o:p></o:p>About Charlie Cumminshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09754886484050898155noreply@blogger.com