US firm offers workers $5,000 to lose weight

We would just about all love to lose a bit of weight.

After all, it makes you feel more confident and it’s generally good for your health. But for employees at one particular company in America, it could also be great for their wallets.

Indeed, less is certainly more for workers at the Bob Barker Co in North Carolina.

Why? Well, because the company which specialises in making uniforms for jails and other detention facilities have offered $5,000 to the worker who loses the greatest percentage of body fat by the start of July.

Named the Biggest Winner Health Challenge, after hit reality show ‘The Biggest Loser’, it certainly beats the usual financial incentives and has got the whole place buzzing.

“That’s an awesome motivator,” said customer sales worker Jackie Martin, 44, who hopes to lose 50 pounds.

Such a practice is not a new one. Bigger companies such as IBM and GlaxoSmithKline have being offering incentives to workers who take part in ‘wellness’ programs for years as they try and cut the spiralling costs of health insurance premiums.

But it’s only now that smaller companies, possibly the hardest hit, have followed suit.
Robert Barker, president of the Bob Barker Co, said it would great if health insurance costs went down, but it wasn’t the real reason why they decided to set up the competition.

He said: “Ultimately, it’s about our employees and their health and happiness.”

To help their workers beat the bulge, the company has even thrown in discounted health club memberships, personal trainers and counselling sessions on nutrition.

Those who just miss out or stop smoking will also be given extra cash.

Altogether 75% of the 180 employees have signed up to the challenge. But, while some departments insist they are supporting each other, others are not so noble.

One worker said: “Most of my department are men. We’re never going to encourage anyone out here, because we want to win. That’s just guys being guys.”

Source: News and Observer