Thread regarding AT&T layoffs

I do not trust this company or their vendor with my medical data. HIPPA to a certain extent protects this information between you and your doctor. But if you disclose it it isn't protected. The chance for it to either fall into the wrong hands or become weaponized by the company and used against me is to great. This isn't tin foil hat stuff. I've seen it happen too many times with "internal surveys" and "career development" initiatives.

Don’t be naive folks. Gathering of medical data and history is only on company interest. They want to know your details so they can profile you and gauge your overall health. Then they will input all this information into a big data system to predict with algorithms your future health and how many $$$ will you cost them (and your family). They will make decisions based on this.

This is a meaningless health screening and its another VENDOR CREEP, so bs vendor came into executive suites and promised some profit sharing on these screenings selling of data or some other convulted screening. As others said, this is a silly gimmick and has no real meat in your health, dont waste your time

Loosen up the tin foil hats people.

Eventually they will use this data to surcharge your health insurance premium like they do smoking. So they will use BMI surcharges for fatties. Or if you don’t do enough steps n a day. Track your location to fast food. Etc.

Have you ever wondered what are they actually doing with your medical data information ?

Just curious.

The fine print is if you earn points and cash them in they tax you on your check. Not worth it to me to save a few pennies on gadgets I’ll never need or use.

you're taxed on the "prizes" and I think they appear as part of one's Total Rewards

I use it - you are basically trading your data for points. But ... whatever. You know how many times my info has been hacked over the past few years? At least five. I actually like the program, it awards points for you taking care of yourself - like logging your meals, monitoring your sleep, and staying active. I will receive about $500 in gift cards this year just for using it. Yes, it's taxable, but so is every dime you can rake in from anywhere.

My health information is between my doctor and me, no one else. So, no thanks, no matter how big the carrot is.

One cost is your privacy. Also, corporate-sponsored wellness programs are notoriously ineffective at actually promoting health.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/09/22/649664555/workplace-wellness-plans-offer-big-incentives-but-may-cost-your-privacy

https://hms.harvard.edu/news/do-wellness-programs-work

In the past they have given credits toward monthly ins. to participate in those. With the billions the n op any pays each year in healthcare cost, it’s only prudent that they do what they can to promote healthy people.

They've already taken your money for the "prizes" which they value at far more than they're worth for tax purposes. So you claw your "money" back as taxable "prizes" rather than what you would spend your money on if you had control of it.

I already have a fitbit, and several of the other things they bought in bulk but parcel out as though they were valuable.

That's the gimmick here. Only a minor difference from last year's ripoff.

This post is off-topic from layoffs, but I confess, I, too, am wondering, "What's the catch THIS time?"