US Company - Quit Smoking and Lose Weight or Quit Your Job

[ps1074]

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The owner of a Michigan company who forced his employees to either quit smoking or quit their jobs said on Wednesday he also wants to tell fat workers to lose weight.

<snip>

"If you don't want to take the test, you can leave," Weyers told Reuters. "I'm not controlling their lives; they have a choice whether they want to work here."

<snip>

Job placement specialist John Challenger said Weyco's moves could set a precedent for larger companies -- if it survives potential legal challenges.

"Certainly it raises an interesting boundary issue: rising health care costs and society's aversion to smoking versus privacy and freedom rights of an individual," Challenger said.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7486850

[LynneSin]

1. I hate to say it but the 2 groups that cause the most problems for....

...for insurance are smoking and eating.

But I can't imagine this getting past legal for either group!

[rucky]

3. Then gym memberships and nicotine patches should be covered. n/t

[LynneSin]

4. Our company offers free smoking programs and a gym membership

at extremely discounted prices (I pay $20/month)

[giant_robot]

5. That's the correct way to do it...

...to offer incentives rather than making demands. I like your company's policies.

[politicaholic]

2. Sorry, but there are personal freedoms that a company can't infringe upon.

Yes this is capitalism, but the company has absolutely no place to tell people how to live their personal lives no matter how high their insurance premiums are.

They can't tell me not to ski. They can't fire me for driving over the speed limit. They can't tell me that I can't go to India for a vacation because of the hightened chances for sickness.

How about this, they can either do business in a democratic society or move their operations to a place a little more dictatorial...perhaps Sudan.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. Here is the original thread on this. You missed the flamewar

;) http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3013185

[ps1074]

10. this thread has an add on

The company now wants them not only quit smoking but lose weight too :)

If they have their way, what will happen to all the overweight workers? There are tens of millions of them...

This is just not right.

[ScreamingMeemie]

12. The killer is when you see the spokesperson for this Co. on T.V.

He's 'uge I tell ya. :hi:

[Droopy]

7. I'd just take my fat ass elsewhere

I wouldn't want to work for an asshole like that anyway. There are plenty of companies out there who would love to have me. I'm a truck driver with 8 years and nearly a million miles safe driving. Not even a speeding ticket. I'm also loyal to a company who'll treat me right. I'm worth my weight in gold to most trucking companies.

[Indiana_Dem]

8. You know, I think the companies wouldn't be so worried about

this if we had national healthcare. Then the companies wouldn't have any jurisdiction into the private lives and lifestyles of their workers because they wouldn't be paying the premiums.

The national healthcare system could then supplies health incentives like the smoking cessation programs and dieting and exercise assistance to reduce new recruits of these "sins" at such a young age.

But, of course....alas, we don't WANT the government involved in our lives now do we? <sarcasm> Instead we allow the companies to rule our lives. Ugh!:spank:

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. But that would be wrong!!!

The government isn't supposed to be responsible for us in the least. ;)

[jpgray]

11. Called this in the original thread.

Smoking and eating habits outside of work just aren't anyone's business.