Applying playground rules to balancing business, worker health

The topic of today’s web exclusive at BenefitNews.com — that one Fortune 500 company saw health care costs soar after laying off 10% of its workforce — made me think of a recent trip I took to the park with my kids.

My son and daughter (ages 4 ½ and 2, respectively) were trying in vain to play together on a seesaw. As much as they love playing together, it just wasn’t working because their weights were so out of balance. Both got frustrated, and ultimately gave up to go play on the slide.

When I read today’s exclusive, I thought of how employers might be feeling like my kids — trying so hard to balance how to trim costs in the face of fiercely difficult economic times through layoffs and benefit cuts, while still not grinding their workers to a pulp — figuring it could be easier to just throw up their hands rather than keep trying to get the weights equal on both sides.

I’ve said on many occasions that I can’t imagine how tough it is to be in your shoes, working to balance and counterbalance all of your decisions for the good of both your employees and your company. So, I’m hoping today’s post can spark some peer-to-peer discussion: How are you making the seesaw balance out? How do you make the cutbacks to keep your company afloat without sinking your employees in the process?

Hit the comments and share your thoughts and experiences. Perhaps together we can find some common best practices.