More and more Miami companies are asking and sometimes demanding that their workers get healthy. These companies want lower health insurance premiums.
"I really want to offer my workers a good health plan. But to do that I need to have reasonable premiums," said Kevin Bentley, the owner of a restaurant in Miami.
Bentley said he wants his workers to avoid smoking, to eat healthy and to exercise more. "I ask more workers to quit smoking if they do smoke and to get at least some exercise three times a week," said Bentley.
Some companies will not hire a worker who smokes. "Employees who smoke drive up our health premiums and we can't have that. We will provide a smoking cessation program for employees who smoke but we will not hire people who smoke," said Monica Brewer, a human resources executive in Miami.
Some workers resent these mandates. "I like to play soccer and basketball but I don't like being told I have to exercise. I already passed physical education in high school," said Terrence Washburn, a Miami resident.
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