IBM CEO punishes employees for having fat kids

CEO Sam Palmisano is proud of how "responsible" IBM has been. But don't forget: A corporation's only true duty is to its shareholders. And that's reflected in IBM's 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report. There's no cost-savings measure that can't be spun as a do-good move. Like IBM's Healthy Livings initiative, which effectively punishes employees for being fat. In 2007, Palmisano proudly writes, that program was expanded to cover employees' fat children as well. Technically, thin employees and their brood get "rebates," but it adds up to the same thing: Big Blue makes you pay for being big. After the jump, the chest-thumping brag from Palmisano, who's not that small-boned himself.

12:40 PM on Fri Dec 21 2007
By Owen Thomas
1,439 views
7 comments

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LindsayT at 01:44 PM on 12/21/07
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clearly the rebate is not a big enough incentive for this big guy. you should at least show a picture of his mug, he is one ugly mofo.
theodp at 02:18 PM on 12/21/07
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Hugs and kisses, Lindsay.

[www.thehindubusinessline.com]

--Sam
theodp at 02:37 PM on 12/21/07
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In case you prefer my Second Life avatar.
[images.businessweek.com]
--Sam
TechMerkin at 02:45 PM on 12/21/07
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If the article is about IBM why do they have Arrington on the cover?
pinkcadillac at 05:23 PM on 12/23/07
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stop being silly. rewarding people for being thin is _not_ the same as punishing people for being fat. put in anothe rcontext, i just received a rather sizable christmas bonus for my good performance this year. several of my coworkers received much less. there's no question that my incentive is a reward to me. only a loser would consider that those who did not perform well are being punished for their underperformance.
Mr.mr at 12:46 PM on 03/27/08
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Thanks for posting the actual release, it was much more informative than your commentary.

It looks like IBM is actually reimbursing and subsidizing the costs of attempts to live more healthfully to anyone willing to make the attempt. From my reading, the worst you could say is that it doesn't help lazy people (those fat or thin who don't feel like spending time/effort "improving their well-being")

Some of the benefits look like they include efforts to stop smoking and get preventative health-care besides just weight loss and healthy eating.They even mention gender specific health problems so maybe even prenatal care!

I can't figure out why anyone would be down on this program especially so strongly with the ad hominem attacks and the deceptive language.

The only hint is that you say "There's no cost-savings measure that can't be spun as a do-good move." and they say something about this program reducing heath costs. Whats wrong with everyone getting a bennifit? FYI, this means that employees are healthier for living better AND it is costing them(the employees) less to do it, AND IBM is saving money!

Kudos to Sam Palmisano and IBM!
RuthMerula at 05:56 PM on 03/27/08
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Comment on IBM CEO punishes employees for having fat kids I used to work for IBM. If I recall, the rebate reimburses all or part of the cost to join a gym or a weight loss program, and stuff like that. It wasn't a handout for thin people at all, just a way to help out if someone was going to pay to do something healthy. Like any other rebate, you don't get anything if you don't spend anything, and it wasn't discriminatory at all.