A debt collection agency founded in California started a scheme to motivate and educate employees to live healthier lifestyles in early January. There are twenty eight employees at the agency; more than half are currently participating in the implementation.

Everyone that is participating in the program have made a goal to lose ten percent of their total body weight by the end of June. Every Monday morning weigh-ins are scheduled and employees have an opportunity to win two cash prizes for losing five percent of their body weight by the end of March, and then another five percent by the end of June.

The Agency’s executive said that he had been thinking about the initiative for quite some time. He declares it perfect for the stereotypical office setting that is fraught with unhealthy eating, and employees taking breaks to get fast food. He made note of the fact that attempting to make employees lose weight was more cost efficient than actually getting health insurance for his workers.

In an attempt to get employees to live healthier, the agency hosts sporadic lunches and “education track meetings” once a week. The meetings are crafted to help workers target and plan for their weight loss goal. So far the program has been successful. The collection company has collectively lost 72 pounds to date. That’s the size of a small child.

The program strives to produce a better all around worker. It logically follows that a less stressed worker will be more efficient and motivated. While a really relaxed debt collector may not seem like they would be the most efficient worker, it all seems like an OK idea. As the government tries to sort out the health care system, perhaps it is time that more companies like this take this route. If employees cannot get health insurance, health initiatives and goals at work could be the next best solution.

Mallory McGuinness works for a debt collection company. Also she writes articles on business, finance, the credit industry and collection agencies.