Reference no: EM131272446
Smokers and the Obese Need Not Apply
Almost every organization in the United States recognizes that it's imperative to have healthy employees. Given the significant cost increases in health insurance coverage for employees (see Chapter 12), employers have looked at a number of ways to reduce these ever-increasing financial burdens. Many have implemented wellness/disease-management pro- grams designed to assist employees in maintaining a healthy life. Programs such as exercise, diet, blood pressure control, and smoking cessation can be found in nearly all organizations that offer such assistance to employees. But some other organizations are viewing this a bit differently. Rather than assist employees in preventing such difficulties, they are simply deciding to not hire smokers and individuals who are obese be- cause of the increased risk of health issues. As long as obesity is not attributable to a disability (which would be a potential EEO violation), the organization has every right to do so. Only some states protect the rights of smokers in regard to employment and smokers may be charged higher insurance premiums in any state.
Statistics show that the smokers and the obese have greater health problems, which increase the cost of health insurance to the organization. And these costs are not just for health insurance premiums but may also include increases in an organization's life and disability insurance, as well as workers' compensation. Whirlpool Corp. recently suspended thirty-nine smokers in 2008 for claiming on their benefits enrollment form that they were nonsmokers to avoid a $500 annual tobacco-use surcharge on their health insurance premium. Scott's Miracle Gro prohibits smoking by employees and fires those who fail random tests for nicotine.
Discrimination against the obese is much more subtle than the policies against smokers. Research at the University of Hawaii has found that in the absence of policies against hiring the obese, overweight people are discriminated against in the hiring process because employers are concerned about insurance costs and future health conditions as well as the perception that they may have physical limitations that would limit their ability to do their job.71 Research seems to indicate that the perceptions may be true. Obesity is costing U.S. corporations more than $13 billion annually and results in more than 50 million lost productive days at work. The obese spend approximately 90 mil- lion days in the hospital each year. As such, refusing to hire them is viewed as a cost-cutting matter.72
Questions:
What is your thought on this issue? Should employers be allowed to "discriminte" against smokers and the obese? Why or why not? Your opinion must be supported with rationale.
This assignment requires introduction and conclusion to the case. The total number of words should be no less than 500.
Write essay comparing the scientific and engineering method
: Write an essay comparing the scientific method and the engineering method of problem solving. What are the differences and how are they the same? You can do your research the using WEB, physics, magazine articles etc.
|
Non-exempt hr clerical-type employee in the department
: You have one non-exempt HR clerical-type employee in the department. Obviously, this is an important problem for a growing start-up organization. Where would you start to determine what is wrong? What would you do to quickly, but effectively, co..
|
What is pinkers book about the change in violence over time
: What is Pinker's thesis about the change in violence over time and To what does Pinker attribute the decline in civil wars and civil unrest.
|
Payoff matrix for jaeho and lawrence
: Construct a payoff matrix for Jaeho and Lawrence. In the payoff matrix identify the two strategies that both students face and then enter their payoffs with Jaeho's payoff the first number and Lawrence's payoff the second number. Label this payof..
|
Smokers and the obese need not apply
: Almost every organization in the United States recognizes that it's imperative to have healthy employees. Given the significant cost increases in health insurance coverage for employees (see Chapter 12), employers have looked at a number of ways t..
|
What are the main responsibilities of the president
: What are a few of his or her accomplishments and goals? Has the U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator that you chose to discuss worked with or against President Barack Obama on a particular issue during his presidency? Explain your response in detai..
|
Describe the action of the motor
: Describe the action of the motor and how the circuit accomplishes the task. If one were to move the pin from Q12 to Q11 or Q13, what would be the result? Try this and describe your results.
|
Different forms of motivation
: What are different forms of motivation and what will they help you do and when to use each?
|
Implement a cyber security program
: Critically discuss long-term initiatives to encourage positive change with regards to assessing security risk and maintain privacy in a corporate environment. What kind of security risk assessment methodologies can be identified for better mapping..
|