The Victorian Government has announced that health checks will be given to workers in some sort of oddball attempt to reduce workplace injuries:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23399322-661,00.html
Ok. Firstly - when was the last time diabetes counted as a workplace injury. Really.
Secondly - as has been pointed out, if health is the issue, why are employers paying for it through Worksafe Victoria? Why not use the excess funds to reduce the premiums, therefore reducing employers' costs, therefore helping small business?
I've got more - what about the people who don't work? People who are students, stay at home parents, unemployed, etc? I can see the future economic benefits in having a healthier population (or at least one who knows how sick it is) so why leave anyone out?
And also it appears that the employers will not be given the results. Good. At some stage we have to respect the privacy of the individual!
3 people I work with have joined gyms/workout groups/health clubs recently. I didn't tell them to do that. In the morning when I go for a run with my friends we pass two groups of "Bootcamp" training. Did all there employers tell them to do that?
The Federal Government is going to launch an enquiry into the National Obesity Epidemic
which reminds me of this song by Lazyboy (underwear goes inside the pants):
Americans, let's face it: We've been a spoiled country for a long time.
Do you know what the number one health risk in America is?
Obesity. They say we're in the middle of an obesity epidemic.
An epidemic like it is polio.
Like we'll be telling our grand kids about it one day.
The Great Obesity Epidemic of 2004.
"How'd you get through it grandpa?"
"Oh, it was horrible Johnny, there was cheesecake and pork chops everywhere."
We're obese because we eat too much crap and don't exercise enough. I'm sure it's not much more complex than that. The fastfood industry has hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on advertising and marketing. The people who grow carrots don't have that much money. Maybe it would be better to launch an enquiry into how to encourage people to take care of their bodies?
I'm running in the Run for the kids in Melbourne this weekend with 29000 other people - how many of those are doing it because their employer is making them?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Efficiency
2 posts in 1 day!
I recently switched mobile phone companies. There was nothing wrong with the old one, it's just that the phones they were giving away didn't have enough street cred with my homies.
Anyway, about a month later I received a cheque from my old mobile company for $10.01. Cool.
Yesterday I received a final bill from my old mobile company for $0.88.
Furthermore it states "Payment not required".
I recently switched mobile phone companies. There was nothing wrong with the old one, it's just that the phones they were giving away didn't have enough street cred with my homies.
Anyway, about a month later I received a cheque from my old mobile company for $10.01. Cool.
Yesterday I received a final bill from my old mobile company for $0.88.
Furthermore it states "Payment not required".
Stop Signs
It's been a month. Sorry about that.
Firstly, my deepest and most sincere commiserations to the families of those who have tragically died over the Easter break in motor vehicle accidents.
The Victorian Government is coming under fire for not having adequate protection at level crossings. I'm not sure if there have been more level crossing incidents this year, or whether there have just been more reported incidents, but in any case there are too many people getting killed.
This is difficult to say without sounding callous and insensitive, but there are signs at these crossings. There are Stop signs at some, rumble strips at others. I'm not sure whether the government can be blamed for individuals who decide not to obey traffic signs. Most people stop at Stop signs all the time regardless of the location and the road conditions. Should there be boom gates at every Stop sign in Victoria?
At some stage the drivers of cars have to take responsibility for their own actions. In the case of motor vehicle accidents failure to take responsibility will oftentimes have tragic consequences.
Firstly, my deepest and most sincere commiserations to the families of those who have tragically died over the Easter break in motor vehicle accidents.
The Victorian Government is coming under fire for not having adequate protection at level crossings. I'm not sure if there have been more level crossing incidents this year, or whether there have just been more reported incidents, but in any case there are too many people getting killed.
This is difficult to say without sounding callous and insensitive, but there are signs at these crossings. There are Stop signs at some, rumble strips at others. I'm not sure whether the government can be blamed for individuals who decide not to obey traffic signs. Most people stop at Stop signs all the time regardless of the location and the road conditions. Should there be boom gates at every Stop sign in Victoria?
At some stage the drivers of cars have to take responsibility for their own actions. In the case of motor vehicle accidents failure to take responsibility will oftentimes have tragic consequences.
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