Inclusion of BMI – Is that a Way to Engage Employees?

Could the new employee incentive program at Whole Foods backfire? Companies are offering a number of incentives and benefits to their employees all in an effort to engage them. A new incentive program at Whole Foods recently caught our attention. The question we are asking ourselves – how can an employee be engaged, if the incentive plans discriminate against them from the “get-go”?

The new incentive program gives their employees larger store discounts based on certain biometric parameters. Using blood pressure, cholesterol testing, and BMI, the company offers different levels of discounts for certain stages met.

The regular discount of 20% still applies to all employees. However, if employees opt into the Healthy Discount Incentive Program and their numbers are "bronze" level, they are eligible for a 22% discount. If they fall into the highest category, platinum, they receive a 30% discount.

According to a press release:  

"The purpose of the screening is to encourage and reward healthy behaviors... and it's one of the ways that we are supporting the health, happiness and excellence of our Team Members'"

….hmm, something doesn’t feel quite right to us. If Whole Foods is all about encouraging and rewarding healthy behaviors – shouldn’t they be incenting those that don’t meet the criteria?