Is Your Workplace Healthy... really...

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Dec 18, 2015

When do you think this "allotted time" is going to be? Do you want to spend extra time at work? (I don't ...) Are you talking about paid time to work out? How much time do you think would be appropriate? Do you have any idea what it would do to staffing to have to also schedule "work-out" breaks for all staff in addition to meal breaks and general breaks? Why would this be the employer's responsibility? What about the many people who aren't interested in "physical training" during the day at work -- is the employer supposed to pay them to sit around and take it easy for the designated amount of time?

A better solution could be health care discounts based on progress in an employer paid for gym -- have it open 24/7. Gyms do not need a staff member to operate it - look at hotel gym rooms. And offer discounts for gyms closer to employee's homes if they are unable to stay at work for fitness. they really could do so much more but as I said before, they really don't care if your healthy lol so they never will spend the money to make sure their employees actually are.

elkpark · Dec 18, 2015

A better solution could be health care discounts based on progress in an employer paid for gym -- have it open 24/7. Gyms do not need a staff member to operate it - look at hotel gym rooms. And offer discounts for gyms closer to employee's homes if they are unable to stay at work for fitness. they really could do so much more but as I said before, they really don't care if your healthy lol so they never will spend the money to make sure their employees actually are.

All the hospitals I've worked for over the last 10 years or so have offered discounts on membership at local gyms as an employment "perk." My current healthcare system employer offers discounts at several different chains in the area, so it's easy to find a convenient location. And my last and current employers do both offer discounts on health insurance costs for meeting identified health goals, including weight/fitness (but also quitting smoking, diet, managing chronic illness, other metrics).

IMO, it's easy to get caught up in fantasizing about what employers "could" do, but how much money and effort should employers put into trying to get people to do something that's good for them if they don't want to do it? People who are interested in being fit and healthy find a way to do that regardless of whether their employers are incentivizing and coercing them, and, if people don't want to, it's not going to matter how easy the employer makes it for people.

OldGrayNurse · Dec 28, 2015

All the hospitals I've worked for over the last 10 years or so have offered discounts on membership at local gyms as an employment "perk." My current healthcare system employer offers discounts at several different chains in the area, so it's easy to find a convenient location. And my last and current employers do both offer discounts on health insurance costs for meeting identified health goals, including weight/fitness (but also quitting smoking, diet, managing chronic illness, other metrics).
IMO, it's easy to get caught up in fantasizing about what employers "could" do, but how much money and effort should employers put into trying to get people to do something that's good for them if they don't want to do it? People who are interested in being fit and healthy find a way to do that regardless of whether their employers are incentivizing and coercing them, and, if people don't want to, it's not going to matter how easy the employer makes it for people.

I agree; however, with insurance companies requiring healthier BMI's, no smoking/smoking cessation, body mechanics workshops, etc, for better-priced plans, employers should be actively seeking to at least try and offer something. My employer considers a paycheck the only incentive you need, and couldn't care less how overweight, in poor physical health, or unhappy his employers are. He is a staunch way, way, way to the right conservative furious over what he sees as "socialist" government interference with the way he wishes to run his company (he inherited it) and is doing everything he can to personally "thumb his nose" at the federal and state governments whom he insists is the blame for him having to provide ANY benefits. (He provides an employee-only "fake" health coverage plan that is actually a catastrophic coverage plan in nature, of which he will not hesitate to yank from you without notice if you miss more than four pay periods a year of working full time hours).

He owns the snack machines and is personal friends with the vendor, who only places high sodium, high fat, high sugar, processed and EXPENSIVE foods in them.

He stopped everyone from leaving to go get lunch and forbids deliveries from local places. He says it wastes too much time. Yet his employees often work twelve and sixteen hour shifts at the time, and he gives them zero consideration for pulling extra shifts. He cut costs so far back in the kitchen that the food is crap. AND, you have to buy it, too. It's not made on-site; There are NO fresh vegetables or fruits. Even our eggs for breakfast come in a big milk carton (eggbeaters...even for those who don't have any cholesterol issues). Everything is either brought frozen and ready-made or comes out of a can.

There are no discounts on our health policies, either, given for those who weigh less, or don't smoke, or who regularly exercise. It's an LTC in a rural area, so a lot of the employees are grateful just to not have to drive into the city.

Read my earlier post: he didn't even want ME (who has a desk job) WALKING FROM MY OFFICE TO THE OTHER END OF THE FACILITY FOR ANY REASON!!! He said any info I needed I could pick up the phone and ask for. (SMH)

I am aware he doesn't have to offer any of these things. I am aware I have a desk job and need to produce while I am there. I do a good job, put up with a ton of attitude from people who USED to like to work here but don't any longer (see above), and I make money for him. I bring my lunch every day in a cooler and don't drink sodas. I have an elliptical at home and use it regularly. But every now and then, if I forgot my lunch, or didn't have time to prepare it, I'd like to know there is something I could eat that didn't cost me my entire daily caloric allowance in one meal. I'd like to be able to say, use the treadmill in the therapy room after hours if I'm going to meet friends in town later without driving 40 miles in the opposite direction. I'd like to be able to payroll deduct some athletic shoes or hand weights if money's running tight. (can't do that either, for some reason).

I am saying that if he wants to continue to make a profit, he needs to see what is happening in this country with health care, get out of the eighties, and try something, anything, to keep the employees he has versus constantly training new staff (which he doesn't somehow understand costs more money because he learned from his father "nurses are a dime a dozen"- yes I've heard him say it- but doesn't understand GOOD nurses are NOT a dime a dozen). If he's not willing (and clearly, he's not) to offer 401Ks, incentive bonuses for extra hours/shifts, reasonable, affordable insurance, tax-deferred medical savings plans, etc., I think the least he could do is make it a tad easier to become a little healthier. Maybe it could improve the working conditions around here to the point where I at least don't take my life into my hands by asking the staff questions about the residents. :)