Comments on: Employers can tip the scales with wellness programs http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/2012/12/employers-can-tip-the-scales-with-wellness-programs/ Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:21:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Chuck http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/2012/12/employers-can-tip-the-scales-with-wellness-programs/#comment-154806 Chuck Sun, 30 Dec 2012 19:52:02 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/?p=36021#comment-154806 That’s right, the evil employers are at fault for pushing for good things and for trying to reduce costs. After all, we all know that saving money is bad, making money is even worse, and that fact that people are obese has nothing to do with their own bad choices. It’s their bosses fault, the boss and McDonald’s that is.

]]> By: Scott M. http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/2012/12/employers-can-tip-the-scales-with-wellness-programs/#comment-154772 Scott M. Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:18:17 +0000 http://blogs.roanoke.com/roundtable/?p=36021#comment-154772 I think it’s a great idea that people get healthier. I really do! So I feel bad about tearing into such a middle of the road piece.

One of the things that bothers me about this piece is it doesn’t emphasize why these types of programs are being pushed by employers. It’s being done to save the employers money which allows more profits. Healthy employees are simply a benefit.

The other thing that interests me is if the employers were truly interested in the health of their employees, are they paying those employees a living wage? If they’re not, the employees may not have time to exercise, cook decent meals, etc. because they’ll be rushing off to their second or third job. Are they paying the people enough so they can afford a gym membership or entry fees to marathons? Can their employees afford a decent bike? Do they have enough leisure time to go to the park?

Personally, I suspect (and freely admit I could be wrong) part of the reason we now have this obesity problem is because people can’t afford to take care of themselves due to decreased wages and increased work hours, etc.

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