A debt collection agency based in California implemented a plan to educate and motivate employees to live healthier lifestyles in early January. There are twenty eight employees at the agency; more than half are currently participating in the initiative.
All of the parties that are involved have made a goal to lose ten percent of their total body weight by the end of June. Every Monday morning weigh-ins are scheduled and employees have a chance to win two cash rewards for losing five percent of their body weight by the end of March, and then another five percent by the end of June.
The Agency’s executive said that he had been thinking about the initiative for quite some time. He declares it perfect for the stereotypical office setting that is fraught with unhealthy eating, and employees taking breaks to get fast food. He made note of the fact that attempting to make employees lose weight was more cost efficient than actually getting health insurance for his workers.
In a plot to get employees to live healthier, the agency hosts sporadic lunches and “education track meetings” once a week. The meetings are designed to assist employees target and plan for their weight loss goal. So far the program has been successful. The collection company has collectively lost 72 pounds to date. That’s the size of a small child.
The program works to produce a better all around worker. It follows that a less stressed worker will be more efficient and motivated. While a really relaxed debt collector does not seem like they would be the most efficient worker, it all seems like a good idea. As the government scrambles to sort out the health care system, perhaps it is time that more companies like this take this route. If employees cannot get health insurance, health initiatives and goals at work could be the next best solution.
Mallory Noxx works for Rapid Recovery Solution, a national`collection company. Having problems with bad debt? Look into debt collections. This article, Cali Collection Company Tries To Get Fit And Healthy is available for free reprint.