Health and Wellness Policy Ethics

Document Type : Perspective

Authors

The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Abstract

This perspective is an ethical brief overview and examination of “wellness” policies in the modern workplace using practical examples and a general application of utilitarianism. Many employers are implementing policies that provide incentives to employees who lead a “healthy” lifestyle. The authors address how these policies could adversely affect “non-healthy” employees. There are a wide variety of ethical issues that impact wellness policies and practices in the workplace. The authors conclude that wellness programs can be ethical, while also providing a general reflective analysis of healthcare challenges in order to reflect on the externalities associated with such policies in the workplace.

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Watch the Video Summary here. 

 

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References

1. Mujtaba BG, Cavico FJ. A Review of Employee Health and Wellness Programs in the United States. Public Policy and Administration Research 2013; 3: 1–15.
2. Sizemore SC. A Fatter Butt Equals a Skinnier Wallet: Why Workplace Wellness Programs Discriminate Against the Obese and Violate Federal Employment Law. Wyoming Law Review 2011; 11: 639–72.
3. Santich Kate. The price of poor health. Sun-Sentinel 2013, April 28: 4D.
4. Kwoh L. Shape Up or Pay Up: Firms Put in New Health Penalties. Wall St J 2013, April 6-7: A1–10.
5. Schmidt H, Voigt K, Wikler D. Carrots, sticks, and health care reform--problems with wellness incentives. N Engl J Med 2010; 362: e3. doi: 10.1056/nejmp0911552
6. Cavico FJ, Mujtaba BG. Business Ethics: The Moral Foundation of Effective Leadership, Management, and Entrepreneurship. Boston: Pearson; 2009.
7. Cavico FJ, Mujtaba BG. Legal Challenges for the Global Manager and Entrepreneur. Iowa: Kendall-Hunt; 2008.
 

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 July 2013
  • Revise Date: 03 August 2013
  • Accept Date: 02 August 2013
  • First Publish Date: 03 August 2013

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