Chicago, IL City Employees Required to Join "Wellness Program" or Pay $50 a Month

[FrankRep]

http://www.thenewamerican.com/media/k2/items/cache/47ef4e21d4cf3a30a00aa834aaf3885a_XL.jpg



All Chicago city employees are now required to participate in Chicago Lives Healthy, a "wellness program" that includes mandated "wellness activities" or pay $50 a month ($1,200 a year for a couple).



Chicago Under RahmCare: Do as We Say or Pay Up (http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/item/12761-chicago-under-rahmcare-do-as-we-say-or-pay-up)


Michael Tennant | The New American (http://www.thenewamerican.com/)
08 September 2012

[angelatc]

Hee - and I'll bet an amazing number of cronies are suddenly entering the wellness activity business.

Holy crap - it's not just employees - it's spouses and domestic partners, too.

This is why they hate us. They hate us because we're free.

[phill4paul]

Hee - and I'll bet an amazing number of cronies are suddenly entering the wellness activity business.

Holy crap - it's not just employees - it's spouses and domestic partners, too.

Yup.

[ZenBowman]

1) City employees receive health insurance from the city.
2) The wellness program is part of the terms of employment.
3) There are cost savings to the city and to the taxpayer associated with healthier employees.
4) Employers have the right to demand that employees do something, that's kind of what employment entails

So, in summary, not a problem. If the city tries to force it on all residents, that would be a violation of sovereignty. On employees, its fair game.

We'd be better off if more employers adopted this approach.

[angelatc]

1) City employees receive health insurance from the city.
2) The wellness program is part of the terms of employment.
3) There are cost savings to the city and to the taxpayer associated with healthier employees.
4) Employers have the right to demand that employees do something, that's kind of what employment entails

So, in summary, not a problem. If the city tries to force it on all residents, that would be a violation of sovereignty. On employees, its fair game.

We'd be better off if more employers adopted this approach.

"We?"

No, we'd be better off if employers stopped paying our insurance.

[FindLiberty]

In Spain, that gesture with the thumb...

Well knowing that, it makes a lot more sense to me anyhow.

[tod evans]

I have no say so as to how the city of Chicago contracts with it's employees.

I will be no better or worse off either way.

If the employees don't like stipulations placed on their employment then get another job.

Or elect a new mayor.

[Keith and stuff]

So there is a new tax of $50 to $100 per month on city employees in Chicago. I figured Rahm Emanuel would try to increase taxes and/or create new taxes in Chicago.

IL also increased the income tax by 66% this year. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0112/Illinois-tax-increase-why-lawmakers-passed-66-percent-income-tax-hike

It also increased the cigarette tax by $1 a pack. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120624/news/706249885/

I am pretty sure there were other tax increases in IL this year. Look for additional state and city tax increases in IL in the near future. The state was about to go off the cliff financially. It might need to double taxes to save itself from that. Though, doubling taxes may also ruin IL for 50 years to come. Pretty much, if you are currently living in IL and plan to live for more than 5 years, leave IL.

[Anti Federalist]

Knew it would only be a matter of time before somebody came in justifying this.

Tell you what, how about we mount some IR cameras all around inside your house, you know, to make sure you're in compliance.

Sheesh, "liberty people"...smh.



1) City employees receive health insurance from the city.
2) The wellness program is part of the terms of employment.
3) There are cost savings to the city and to the taxpayer associated with healthier employees.
4) Employers have the right to demand that employees do something, that's kind of what employment entails

So, in summary, not a problem. If the city tries to force it on all residents, that would be a violation of sovereignty. On employees, its fair game.

We'd be better off if more employers adopted this approach.

[Weston White]

The only way such a program could be found legitimate is if those employees are to meet such requirements while working “on the clock” or are paid to meet such requirement during their own time. For instance in Fresno, CA our police are paid extra to keep in shape (as a voluntary fitness program), which costs local taxpayers about $500,000 each year to fund the entirety of that program (which is only available to police officers and no other class of city employee).

[belian78]

So there is a new tax of $50 to $100 per month on city employees in Chicago. I figured Rahm Emanuel would try to increase taxes and/or create new taxes in Chicago.

IL also increased the income tax by 66% this year. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0112/Illinois-tax-increase-why-lawmakers-passed-66-percent-income-tax-hike

It also increased the cigarette tax by $1 a pack. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120624/news/706249885/

I am pretty sure there were other tax increases in IL this year. Look for additional state and city tax increases in IL in the near future. The state was about to go off the cliff financially. It might need to double taxes to save itself from that. Though, doubling taxes may also ruin IL for 50 years to come. Pretty much, if you are currently living in IL and plan to live for more than 5 years, leave IL.

Believe me, if it weren't for my son's family on his mom's side being here in IL, I'd been gone a long time ago. I'm paying almost double what a house payment would be in rent right now, just to be in a decend area/school district for my kids. I would love to save myself about $400/mo by buying, but I'm sure as hell not doing it in this state.

[DamianTV]

The Compliance of the Owned is Mandatory. The Free Man neither complies nor pays another for how he treats his own body.

[Anti Federalist]

The Compliance of the Owned is Mandatory. The Free Man neither complies nor pays another for how he treats his own body.

True this.