Workplace

Some people worry about “government intrusion” into health care—but employers already do plenty of intruding themselves, said Jackie Ford in Marketwatch.com. In many ways, it’s only to be expected. Employers foot the bill for more than 70 percent of all health-insurance premiums, and “carry the additional burden of health-related absenteeism and reduced productivity.” Companies are scrutinizing employees’ lifestyle choices, nudging them to quit smoking or lose weight.

So don’t be surprised to hear questions ranging from “how often you hit the gym to how often you feel sad,” said Michelle Andrews in Money. Half the employers surveyed by Aon Consulting say that they already employ these so-called health-risk assessments, and still more say they plan to use them in the future. Don’t worry: Your boss shouldn’t be privy to the information. “In most cases you don’t stand to lose anything by completing the survey honestly”—the only thing that might hurt you, in fact, is choosing not to answer at all. Many companies now tie certain incentives to completing assessments. Some have even “denied health insurance to workers who don’t participate.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up