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In an uncertain economy company’s scrutinizing how it spends its money on labor and benefit costs is commonplace today. The annual rising cost of health insurance is a strain for any company’s bottom line causing creative thinking in how to save money.  Cost containment initiatives coupled with being in an industry that serves the public’s health creates special complexities.

The healthcare industry not only seeks to motivate employees who may have poor health habits and issues but also serves patients who may have the same issues. To address these complexities, the healthcare industry has already introduced the idea of banning smokers from working within their facilities.

Going a step further on raising employment standards, a recent report that a healthcare company in Texas has adopted a body mass index (BMI) standard for prospective employees. According to the report employees who have a BMI higher than 35 are denied employment.  Help is offered to existing employees who may have a BMI higher than 35.

Like most things, there is more than one factor to consider.   Here are pros and cons of requiring job seekers to reveal their BMI scores.

Pros:

  1. This will enable employers the ability to better control health insurance utilization costs,
  2. This standard will potentially improve the health of the workforce, positively affecting productivity, morale and engagement,
  3. It is better to influence customers in healthy habits, through being a role model.

Cons:

  1. While being “over weight” is not part of a protected class, having a medical condition is protected.  The line is thin between the two,
  2. Placing this ban on potential employment candidates might make it tougher to find skilled talent,
  3. Adopting a “no fat” hiring rule might have a negative public relations outcome.

You be the judge: Should employers adopt BMI standards for employment purposes?

 

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Tresha Moreland

Tresha Moreland is a 30-year organizational effectiveness and strategic workforce planning expert. She partners with business leaders to develop workplace strategies that achieve best-in-class results. She has held key organizational leadership roles in multiple industries such as manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. Tresha is the founder and principal consultant of HR C-Suite, LLC (www.hrcsuite.com). HR C-Suite is a results-based HR strategy resource dedicated to connecting HR with business results. She has received a master’s degree in human resource management (MS) and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). She has also earned a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Six Sigma Black Belt Professional (SSBBP) Certification. She is also recognized as a Fellow with the American College Healthcare Executives with a FACHE designation.

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