ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2008 > September > 15
Monday, September 15, 2008
Should employees be charged a “fat fee”?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Across the state line in Alabama, the state government will begin charging its overweight employees a $25 a month fee for insurance if they don’t make an effort to shed pounds and improve their overall health. The state will define obesity as anyone with a body mass index of 35 or higher. Alabama is the first state in the nation to actually penalize its employees for being overweight, though other states have began initiatives that positively reward staff who engage in healthier habits.
The move has caused quite a bit of controversy, especially those that are part of the fat acceptance movement, who feel that this kind of legislation is a form of discrimination. There is also concern of just how the state will go about judging who has made an effort to become healthier and who has not, leading some to believe that the initiative will be administered too subjectively to be effective.
Do you think Georgia should start charging its overweight state employees a “fat tax”? Is this a form of workplace discrimination or a tough love move to help save lives?
If you do want to shed the pounds, there are many success stories around. Check out some of them.
