Why do we reward stupidity?

Bill Gates is a filthy rich individual and his company microsoft does not work on the narrow margins that walmart does, and bill gates is an absolutely ruthless competitor in the market place.

 

When a company names itself a beneficiary on a policy bought in the name of a rank and file employee, it is known as Dead Peasants Insurance. Walmart stopped the practice in 2000, saying it was losing money.

It said the program was intended to help pay rising employee healthcare costs. It didn't work out and was cancelled in 2000

I smell a rat, or at least a bullshit reason why Walmart stopped the practice of taking out life insurance policies on employees.

First I was puzzled about why they would consider such a thing, it could be a large expenditure in premiums if they insured a healthy twenty year old with a life expectancy of another 60 years. It is an illogical and financially counter productive venture. Unless of course they only targeted those employees who according to the companies health insurance records were deemed to be terminally ill or at the least have a reasonably good chance to die within the next year or two. That sounds a lot more likely and would provide decent profits with a short term investiture of funds.

Then this happened;

HIPAA regulations became effective on April 14, 2001, and April 14, 2003 is the date on which hospitals must have been in compliance with the HIPAA privacy rule. The rule governs the use and disclosure of individually identifiable health information. Among its provisions are standards for releasing medical information about patients to the media and clergy.

That prevented Walmart from getting medical information or at the very least made any such inquiries subject to a lot of questions as well as needing the permission of the employee in question.

Requests from your employer

The Privacy Rule does not prevent your supervisor, human resources worker or others from asking you for a doctor’s note or other information about your health if your employer needs the information to administer sick leave, workers’ compensation, wellness programs, or health insurance.

•However, if your employer asks your health care provider directly for information about you, your provider cannot disclose the information in response without your authorization.


•Covered health care providers must have your authorization to disclose this information to your employer, unless other laws require them to disclose it.

Am I the only one to notice the convenient timing of that decision to stop the practice of insuring employees? I wonder if any of the lawyers in these settlement cases have noticed it as well. I was working for Rite Aid at the time as a manager and we knew about the laws about 15 months in advance because it required a revamping of the pharmacy computer system and a shit load of training about it. I'm certain Walmart knew of the coming changes and THAT is the main reason they stopped it.

The legality of it is apparently still being considered, but I for one view it as a blatantly despicable plan to reap profit from the impending death of their employees.
Glad I never did like Walfart anyway, now I have one more reason.

 

I guess you don't know much about HOW Bill built his MONOPOLY and the numerous small companies he completely destroyed without a thought as to the well being of those effected by his business practices.
Bill was/is, as already stated, a ruthless, go for the throat, if we can't buy them, bury them business man.

 

youre right....I dont know...

 

Don't worry, I won't hold you accountable. A lot of these "takeovers" and legal battles happened before you were born or when you were a cute little baby.

 

...soooo helpless...

 

Going back to the original purpose of this thread...

I feel that no matter what we do, if you are killing yourself in the processes, it should not be treated any different than shooting yourself in the head.

 

if i ever see you eating a big mac, i'll tackle you and have you committed.

 

"It tastes like a dead body smells"
"Gimma a little piece!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9VusqIa0DY&feature=related"]YouTube - Marine eats insurgents Milkyway Bar

 

a person should be able to pursue their own happiness as long as they don't hurt anyone else in the process. you people are advocating all kinds of control against free will

 

it was a joke sry i wasnt clear

 

Governments and corporations are in the business of making money and maintaining power, the easiest way to do that is to breed ignorant sheep.. that can be easily manipulated through the media or social pressure..

Intelligence, insightfulness and resourcefulness are a threat to total control and domination, therefore must be frowned upon or even shunned..

The truth is that is takes sheep to hand over their individual power for any authority to exist. Collectively, the majority has to do this willingly, because if taken forcefully even the ignorant idiots might open their eyes and see the truth which could lead to something dangerous like socialism (then who would control all the power and money?)

 

I can only ever speak on behalf of myself unless given the right to do otherwise.

A man who does janitorial work can be happy to have work. He may be underpaid, or even exploited by his boss, but at the end of the day he's happy that he gets to eat. If he lacks education, his hands are tied.