"the store is offering a 30 percent to employees who "

How hard is it to proofread a fucking 4 paragraph piece?

Come fucking on already. I suppose your resume says "Journalist". What a fucking riot.

i don't get your perspective. Insurance agencies reward people for healthy choices--why shouldn't employers? Mr. Mackey is not penalizing employees who make less-than-healthful choices, he's rewarding employees who make the MOST healthful choices. Why is he being demonized for this? It may save Whole Foods Market--and it's shareholders--money, but more importantly, it's also an incentive for employees to live well. We all want to live long and healthy lives. A generous gift that helps peopl remember that at least some of that is often within our own power is one to be applauded. Let's remember that Whole Foods Market has helped millions of us make healthier choices and lead happier lives.

I think this is a great idea! What's the problem?

Man, looking at the comments, y'all got a tough crowd! Actually what I think people should really look at this this... if companies spent less on insurance premiums, they'll have more money. In theory, they can funnel this money to employees instead. So Mackey is doing this for a "win-win" because he'll get to save costs, and encourage his employees to buy more company products, thus fostering a greater sense of unity and moral.

From a purely subjective stand point, I can see why this is a "win-win" for him.

I also think that if there are fatter employees who don't like this kind of policy, they're kind of short sighted to fight the fat aspect of this. The company should really just pay folks more if insurance premiums go down.

OK I can't speak for, against, or about anyone's behalf, but this Whole Paycheck guy sounds like a total ____plug.

What about all the people who try to live a more fit life but their physique and metabolism and BMI and such make little improvement? I can understand if they offer free programs and benefits to help you live a more healthy life, but to start using metrics and determine who's being more healthy than others in a stupid grocery store? WTF! Is he checking their teeth like horses? Wow, and I thought the American Apparel owner was a douche.

I guess if people aren't fit, hey, surplus population right? Screw em. (that's sarcasm btw)

Obviously there should be some leeway for people with metabolic conditions or genetic problems that make achieving low cholesterol or lower fat levels impossible. I also think the BMI isn't the ideal choice as many muscular males can be classed as 'obese' & have a 6-pack :-). But the idea that a company can save on health insurance, while helping their employees choose a healthier lifestyle isn't really such a bad thing. He doesn't say you HAVE to achieve these goals, so it's completely your own choice. The whole of the western world is going to pot (belly) with health issues & obesity running wild, so anything that helps people make wiser food & exercise choices should be encouraged I would have thought?

Check out this informative and inspiring video on why people choose vegan: http://veganvideo.org/

Also see Gary Yourofsky: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bagt5L9wXGo

Robert Sietsema

Hey, don't you get tired, JC, of dropping your goddamned url in every post that mentions the word "vegetarian" without even reading the entry? Don't you have anything to say? A spammer wearing a white coat is still a spammer, and I request that everyone who reads this forward him some spam at firefly@juno.com

fatty!