Coffee Is an Essential Benefit Too (Why not also mandate Fitness Club benefits for all employees?)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 03/12/2012 | By ALLYSIA FINLEY

[SeekAndFind]

Dear President Obama,

Can you believe the nerve of employers? Many of them still seem to think that they should be allowed to determine the benefits they offer. I guess they haven't read your 2,000-page health law. It's the government's job now.

That's a good thing, too. Employers for too long have been able to restrict our access to essential health services like contraception by making us pay some of the bill. Really, it's amazing that we aren't all dead. Now, thanks to you, we'll enjoy free and universal access to preventative care just like workers do in Cuba. Even so, there are still many essential benefits that the government must mandate to make the U.S. the freest country in the world.

• Fitness club memberships. Most doctors agree that exercising is one of the best ways to prevent disease. However, gym memberships can run between $240 and $1,800 per year. Such high prices force us to choose between exercising and buying groceries. While we could walk or jog outside, many of us prefer not to. Therefore, employers should be required to pay for workers' gym memberships. Doing so might even reduce employers' health costs, which is why many companies already subsidize memberships. Those that don't are limiting our freedom to exercise.

• Massages. Stress raises the risk of heart disease, obesity, depression and a host of other maladies. About one half of Americans say they're stressed, and studies show that health costs for stressed-out workers are nearly 50% higher than those for their chilled-out counterparts. According to the Mayo Clinic, a great way to reduce stress is to get a massage. However, since few of us can afford massages, it is imperative that employers be required to cover weekly massage treatments or hire in-office masseuses.

[Chuzzlewit]

spot on .. coming soon, I am certain of it.

[null and void]

I worked for a company where we described the free coffee as the company fringe benefit. (benefit, singular)...

[trailhkr1]

The company I work for encourages us to go to the gym and covers our membership up to $25 per month. They have in house weight loss programs etc. Since starting the programs 3 years ago they have significantly reduced their health care claims. The co. is self insured.

[bigbob]

I thought coffee was a constitutional right ;-)

[AnTiw1]

given some of the loopy employees and half alive customer service i experience, this is one employer benefit that should be universal...

[cotton]

Coffee???? This would amount to blatant discrimination against tea drinkers and those who prefer wine, which also have documented health benefits. Therefore, the evil employeer must be required to furnish these beverages in what ever quantities and types required by the employees!

[6SJ7]

No mochachino no peace!

[Lou L]

What about vacation? And I'm not just talking about the company paying me for a few weeks off every year. I want it to really be a vacation--one in which my company jets me off (better be first class, too) to some tropical island, where I can get room service, free massages, and lounge around--really let go the stress of my job.

As it stands today--when I'm on vacation--I have to constantly worry about who's doing the work while I'm away, how much work is piling up for me when I get back, and even whether or not I'll have a job when I return.

[Buckeye McFrog]

if Folgers, Maxwell House and Starbucks decided to invest in a K-Street lobbyist, it would happen...

[Chuzzlewit]

hhahhhh!!! actually, when I eat better lunch, I do a better job so I really feel that the Prez needs to push for mandatory lunches, to be paid for of course by the rich evil health insurance companies.

[AnTiw1]

" Coffee???? This would amount to blatant discrimination against tea drinkers and those who prefer wine, which also have documented health benefits. Therefore, the evil employeer must be required to furnish these beverages in what ever quantities and types required by the employees "

those people get a coffee enema

[The Electrician]

I want a pony.

[newzjunkey]

I like this piece. Very amusing.