While drawing laughter for saying REI “has to be fit since they're a fitness company,” President Obama praised the outdoor retailer for its commitment to providing health insurance for part-time as well as full-time employees.
“Every single employee is covered, but part of the reason they're able to do it is because they put a big emphasis on prevention and wellness,” said Obama in his remarks following an hourlong discussion with business leaders, including Sally Jewell, CEO of REI.
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Besides offering insurance to part-time workers, REI, according to a statement from the White House, “offers employees support for outdoor activities ranging from outdoor gear and apparel discounts, free rentals, and outdoor challenge grants. REI employees can earn extra healthy lifestyle dollars to put toward the cost of coverage by engaging in specific “good behaviors,” such as getting regular aerobic exercise. REI also supports personal health goals and provides equipment support, discounts, and time off so employees can achieve their goals.”
Obama also singled out Safeway and Johnson & Johnson for holding down health-care costs by encouraging employees to exercise, stop smoking and lose weight.
Besides Jewell, others attending Tuesday's roundtable were Johnson & Johnson CEO Bill Weldon, Safeway CEO Steve Burd, Microsoft's director of
Tuesday was the second day in a row Obama highlighted health-care changes. Monday, he announced that union and health-industry groups had committed to reduce the health-care inflation rate by 1.5 percentage points a year over 10 years.
