Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey, has told a Bloomberg interviewer about his latest ideas on motivating employees to lose weight and "measurably improve their health." Using mobile laboratories, the company will offer to check employees' blood pressure, cholesterol levels and body-mass index. This, added to whether they smoke or not, will help them earn discounts up to 30 percent off store goods, if they can be seen to be making positive efforts.
Whole Foods spent $150 million last year on health care. Now, the company wants to "empower" employees to share the responsibility. According to spokeswoman, Kate Lowery, Whole Foods pays health care premiums for its 40,000 full-time employees, or more than 75 percent of its workforce, while part-time employees pay their own premiums.
If the voluntary program, which starts in January, works as Mr. Mackey hopes, employees could save money and get in shape while the company cuts its health care tab.
"We're making an investment and we expect a return," Mr. Mackey said.
More than 100 high-risk employees have already participated in an intensive retreat-style immersion program working for five-10 days with a doctor for which the company pays "several thousand dollars." Mr. Mackey told Bloomberg, "Several of those employees have told me the program saved their lives."
With the new companywide program, it will be easy for anyone to get a baseline 20 percent discount. This, plus contests within stores and regions, will encourage participation and maintain motivation, Mr. Mackey believes. After the initial incentive, "The discounts are on a sliding scale based on results."
Bloomberg also reminds readers of Mr. Mackey's comments in a Wall Street Journal column in August that "most health problems are 'self-inflicted' and can be prevented through proper diet, exercise and similar lifestyle changes." It is his belief that "cost savings are achieved by 'less government control and more individual empowerment.'"
Discussion questions: Are measurable discounts a good way to motivate behavioral changes in employees around diet and fitness? Is this a smart way for companies to reduce health care costs? Or are the risks of employee coercion too great?
[Author's commentary] Pity Mr. Mackey had to go and spoil a good offer by implying that anyone not losing weight was deliberately putting their health and life in jeopardy. That, my friends, is purely a matter of opinion (and, dare I say it, CHOICE).