Comments on: New reason for wellness programs: Weight-loss surgeries get covered by comp

By: June

June — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:34:05 +0000

The whole issue is totally ridiculous. As soon as an employer pays for weight loss surgery and something goes array to whom do we think will get stuck with that liability? As if we don’t know. The system is completely abused. What more does anyone expect these days from a government run entity?

By: MMS

MMS — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:53:42 +0000

HJD — I heartedly agree with your perspective on this issue, which I think nearly everyone else missed as they jumped on “the irresponsible fat guy”. I work in HR, and am keenly aware of the cost associated with WC claims. In this case (as with many claims), it comes down to “pay now or pay more later”. Sounds simplistic perhaps but real nonetheless.

I might add that I am quite surprised by the number of extremely negative comments about overweight people that are posted here, assuming most of these are HR folk. Tells me a lot about the stereotypes and prejudices that are still so prevalent within our ranks and the society as a whole. Yet we want to talk about why certain people don’t get off their “lard butts” and get a job — Go Figure!

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:12:33 +0000

Why is it we only see things from our management personal point of view. Be a lawyer and the employee. Lawyers see this as money in their pockets after an award and the employee sees this as a deserved award based that their injury is insured. Now in this day and age when companies NET millions and are cutting back employees you make this an issue of survival for the employee. The fact that employees feel unappreciated, not part of the company and have no stake is where we err. Unemployment was higher in the 70’s and we sat in odd/even lines for fuel but as a 10 year old I went to company picnics, went to work with uncles(notice I said no aunts they were home). We are quick to blame the employee but take a hard look at how our country evolved in 35 years and yes, we created our own issues. Unions protected the stake of the employee from management and each made concessions, we broke the Unions and now there is no middle class, we pay healthcare, and companies make $$ for the stockholders or top 10% of nation, thus workers see the workers comp issue as survival and deserved award. HR must evolve and stop blaming everyone else. Especially when most HR are puppets not an actual resource.

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:48:14 +0000

I have been paying social security since 1969. For most of you that figures out to be forty years. Your darn right I expect the government to pay up on my social security when I am due social security payment. I also suspect to pony up with savings to live in this world.

Of course there are people out there in the world that want to set on their lard butts. They remind me alot of the people that crowd in front when the freeway gets blocked.

See ya

By: Harry

Harry — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:48:26 +0000

I read this one before, but what a crock of manure! I am 58 years old, had a stroke seven years ago, and the only one I have to blame is myself. I was the one putting the food going down the pie hole all the time. I smokeD too AND DON’T ANYMORE.

It just goes to show you that the attorneys, the court, and the American people have totally lost it when it comes down to common sense.

WHEN IN GOD’S NAME ARE PEOPLE GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE SHAPE OF THEIR BODY, THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND WHAT GOES ON IN OUR COUNTRY. THIS IS NOT An OBAMA OR BUSH THING, IT IS A HORSE MANURE THING!

Again, I am a 58 year old guy who has had one stroke, recovered, am diabetic, who gets off his lard butt and on the exercise equipment about 4-5 times a week and does not want workers compensation or anything. Why don’t we get the people a hankie and we can all feel sorry everybody and have a good cry.

Oh I use to smoke like all get out. I loved the fat food. The doctor told me I would die if I did not quit smoking and start eating right. I could have said, oh smoking did that. My employer made me eat because of my nerves. Instead, I quit smoking, started eating right, and work every day on keeping my diet, excercise, and blood sugar right.

ALL OF THIS POOR THING STUFF JUST MAKES ME MAD. I guess working where I am made me older too.

THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN A BUNCH OF LAWYERS THAT ENABLE PEOPLE

IF YOUR OVERWEIGHT, GET HELP, QUIT WHINNING ,AND G,ET INTO THE EXERCISE, REHAB, MAKING EXCUSES, FEELING SORRY FOR YOUR SELF WILL JUST GET YOU AN EARLIER PLACE IN THE CEMETRY. SEE YA!

By: Kevin Baldwin

Kevin Baldwin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:29:20 +0000

Lorie: “While I’m on my soapbox…. comp was designed to support and help workers injured on the job through no fault of their own while they recover from their injuries.”

Just one correction here … it doesn’t matter whether the employee is at fault or not, as long as they are not provably intoxicated or engaging in criminal misconduct … the employer pays. Recourse? Discipline according to company policy for violation of plant rules.

By: HJD

HJD — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:02:13 +0000

Thank you stars! I was rather frustrated with the comments above…noting that the big picture had CLEARLY ben missed by the majority. Your support is appreciated…as I was beginning to think I was missing the big picture.

By: stars

stars — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:10:52 +0000

Well said HJD!

As someone who has devoted the past 12 years of my career in senior HR roles, it is very disappointing and sad that the only rational and informed argument in this forum is being made by a Director of Operations and not one from the “HR” experts and “pros” in this forum.

I’m not sure what to make of that. HR wants to sit at the big corporate boardroom table, at the strategic level. Can the HR pros in this forum match up with the well informed, professional, rational Director of Operations and bring the same abilities to the corporate boardroom? Doesn’t look that way … Too bad.

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:50:41 +0000

What would this employee have done if gastric bypass weren’t an option as some people are not good rsiks for it. The doc would have put him on a weight loss program, rehab and exercise. I think that gastric bypass is getting to be the easy way out for obese people who have no self control to eat healthy or exercise. I have a metabolism issue but I compensate by watching what I eat and being active. Enough excuses. Fat people, stand up and get moving and close your mouths after you have eaten a healthy portion!

By: HJD

HJD — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:50:15 +0000

HR in IL,
I think you misunderstood my point. My comments were based on the law, not my personal opinion. I think Lorie is right on the money. I live in the mid-west. I have 3 kids one in college, one in middle school and one in kindergarten. My husband worked in the commercial construction industry for 15 years before losing his job a year ago. Luckily he was able to find another quickly…however it came with a cut in pay nearly 1/4 of his average annual earnings. I am Director of Operations for a family owned and operated custom manufacturing facility. My father owns a small retail business that he built with his father, in a highly competitive market. We are hard working, middle class Americans. That is where my perspective comes from.
The bottom line is that I do not believe anyone deserves a free ride and I feel America has seriously crippled itself by protecting unmotivated people that do not want to work. People who suffer from the entitlement syndrome are hurting us all.
That being said – remember those workers in need of the weight loss surgery were hurt at work. That shows me that they are not unmotivated. They were working. Would it be different if the person had a pre-existing condition other being over-weight? Probably, because society assumes fat people are lazy. This is often not the case.
We have all seen firsthand how operating expenses and overhead costs hurt employees. The more we pay as employers the less disposable income there is to spread into other employee benefit areas. My point was that useless litigation makes WC rates rise. Catastrauphic claims follow an employer for 4 years! We as a mid size business cannot continue to sustain increases of gross proportions year after year.
On principal should we have to “foot the bill” for all we are forced to? Both as employers and taxpaying Americans, the answer is emphatically NO! Am I angry that I pay outrageous premiums for every type of insurance coverage under the sun? Yes! Am I frustrated that the current administration is doling out my hard earned tax dollars at a rate of 3 times the rate the country is paying in? Yes! Am I irate that I will contribute to social security my entire working career but probably never have the opportunity to subsidize my retirement with that benefit? Yes, I am. Am I scared that my children will have to work until they die because the stock market is bad, insurance is unattainable and that the government will probably have them paying for the SS deficit? Yes.
So – in response to your comment: I am NOT part of the problem. I do not have the ”stand in line with my hand out” mentality. I choose to have a proactive approach rather than a reactive approach. I do not want to sit and trade insults, however my view is that anyone who dares pass judgment be well versed on all contributing factors in a situation, something I feel you, are not.