An alert FrontBurnervian points us to a Romenesko item about a new policy at A.H. Belo. Employees (and their health-care-plan enrolled spouses) will have to shape up or pay up. Romenesko posted the entire memo to employees, but here’s the gist:
In 2014, we will again require biometric screenings; however, the scope of the biometric screening will change. To avoid a surcharge in 2015, enrolled employees and their covered spouses/domestic partners must take the biometric screening in 2014 through Quest Diagnostic and pass three of five risk factors. Tobacco use, or any form of nicotine use, will continue to be a separate $75 per month surcharge for both the employee and the covered spouse/domestic partner. Additional details regarding the five risk factors and the potential 2015 surcharge will be provided later this year.
While the memo says that details about the risk factors won’t be provided till later, FrontBurner has learned which five factors the company will measure. They are: body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, liver function, and “dumb face.” The latter risk factor, many studies have shown, is a strong indicator of stupidity, which last year cost American business owners $4.2 trillion.
