Florida County Bans Hiring of Smokers (and some companies test your Spouse for smoking too)

[The Straight Story]

Florida County Bans Hiring of Smokers

Sarasota County in Florida says it will no longer hire applicants who smoke or use other tobacco products.

Under the county's tobacco-free hiring policy, the application process will include a question on whether applicants have used tobacco products in the preceding 12 months.

In addition, the county will screen prospective employees for nicotine during the new-hire physical exam process. The county says it will consider any prospective employee with nicotine above a certain level as ineligible for hire.

In announcing the new policy, which went into effect May 19, the county said it is adopting the policy to promote a healthier workforce and reduce healthcare costs.


http://hr.blr.com/news.aspx?id=78366

No smoke? That's no guaranteed solution
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
Last updated Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 4:17 a.m.

If you think Sarasota County government has gone overboard by refusing to hire smokers, consider Weyco, a health care benefits administrator in Lansing, Mich.

The company, run by fitness zealot Howard Weyers, bans smoking at work or at home for its 190 employees and fires those who refuse to comply.

Employees, and their spouses -- even those who are not on the company's medical plan -- have to undergo testing. Any employee with a smoking spouse loses $75 a pay period, or $1,950 a year.

Well, that can't happen here, you say. It's discrimination; we'll call the American Civil Liberties Union.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080521/COLUMNIST17/805210567/-1/newssitemap

[TomInTib]

1. Three questions....

"Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Do you smoke pot?"

"Do you want to go out on the veranda and smoke a cigarette?"

More than one "No" answer, and you're not going to work for us.


I cannot stand having straight people around me.

[Kutjara]

2. It's like there's some kind of unholy competition in this country...

...to decide if it's the government or the people that are the bigger fascists. Sometimes I think we deserve each other.

[SteveM]

5. Smoking, drugs, alcohol, guns, abortion: prohibition is the addiction (nt)

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. Um, the government IS the people. n/t

[Kutjara]

11. I'm not sure that's been true for a long time.

Stolen elections, power elites, political dynasties, government/corporate cabals, military-industrial complex: political power in America has very little to do with "the people." It's government by the rich, for the rich.

[onethatcares]

3. papers, please. Have you talked with anyone

that does not conform to our viewpoint? Are you villing to turn in your co workers for any trangressions? Did your mother smoke? Do you have intimate relations in deviant positions?

gaud, it had to be floriduh again, didn't it?

[SteveM]

4. Florida is always behind the more "progressive" California...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,188360,00.html

Welcome to the War on Drugs, Inc.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Does it also require...

low fat and low carb diets amongst its workforce? (Heart disease and diabetes are higher on the list than lung cancer and emphysema.)

daily exercise and weight within defined limits?

refusal to engage in any sports or other activities where injuries might occur?

training before use of power tools or kitchen equipment at home?

all potentially harmful substances be banned from the workplace?

all potentially harmful substances be banned from employee homes?

And has it taken into account that while smoking is undoubtedly injurious, retirement benefits, along with retirement health care, would be far lower if the employee dies earlier?

Has it really done a proper actuarial study of the money actually saved (or not, as the case may be) or has it just added up some bills from cancer patients?

[Occulus]

7. How the HELL can they require something of a nonemployee?

I would be suing for back pay, were I one of those spouses...

[rove karl rove]

12. you tell me, how is this "constitutional"?

I don't smoke, but there's NO way I'd agree to have my spouse tested.

[cbc5g]

8. Not very tolerant are they? n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Well here is one example of smoking being harmful to employees