Losing employment due to tobacco use?

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How does everyone feel about that? Being denied employment or being terminated because you use tobacco, on your own time. It saves on company health care costs. Yet it takes away your freedom to use a completly legal product. On your own time. Thoughts?

has this actually happened?

Hmm, i'm completely against tobacco so it'll be hard for me to give an objective view, but unless the person was smoking in a 'smoking prohibited' zone, then there is no reason why he should get fired - it's a personal choice. Although anyone who's a councillor for children or some such role model-y employee prolly shouldn't smoke.

has this actually happened? Yes, at a company in Michigan. The guy is going to eventually raise the health insurance rates for families where the spouse smokes. If I remember correctly, he would also penalize people for being overweight if it were permitted under Michigan law (I think height and weight are protected characteristcs in that state). But I think he's giving out bonuses to employees who hit fitness goals (they work with a trainer from the company).I think he gave his employees 15 months to quit smoking, and they get fired if they don't do it. They don't hire new employees who smoke, of course.

Yeah, I heard about this, big brother, snuck in the back door....or maybe it was the bathroom window. Doesn't your employer control enough of your life, now they get to control what you do in your home. If tobacco represents the doom of civilized society, then just make it illegal. Enjoy whats left of your freedoms while they last.

As mucha s I'm against smoking, it' snot my body and there for I truely don't care. And I certinaly don't think an emplyer should be allowed to controlw hat you do out of work.Now on a similar note, I do agree with making states smoke free as in public places. It's fine if people want to smoke, but none smokers shouldn't be forced to inhale the smoke either. Ohio is fighting to become a smoke free state and so far it as passed in most counties.. including the county just north of me. I seriously hope it passe in my county as well.

smoke free is dine in some places.I can still smoke in bars here but I think the general ove is to make it illegal for me to smoke anywhere but in my house under my blankets with the lights off.In a bar the last thing you should be worried about is me smoking, what ya need to be concerned about is your liver and that fucking retard drinking gallons and then wrapping his car around you on your way home after.

hehe well I don't drink a lot when I go out to be honest, I go out to hang with my friends and to play pool.I went to Columbus a few months ago and it's smoke free everywhere there and honestly I loved it! I didn't come out smelling like an ashtray or feel like I just smoked a pack of cigs! I haven't been out to the bars for awhile because 1) All that smoke bothers my asthma and 2) I don't think it's right that those who choose to smoke and possibly get lung cancer, mouth cancer etc etc force the same chances on me though I chose not to smoke.I know people will argue, "Well than don't go out" but why should I who chose not to smoke have to limit where I go for the smokers?I am also not saying smokers should have to limit either, but make them go outside or make a separate smoking room. But second hand smoke is dangerous and those of us who chose not to smoke shouldn’t have to die for someone else’s choice.

Im dying from smoking, isnt that enough of a price to pay?Now honestly if anyone had some brains, they would open up an alternative smoke free bar with no laws demanding it and pull in all the non smokers and make some cash.Id do it myself here but I refuse to own a place I cant go to and I dont have the skills to manage it nor the money to finance it.I dont have a problem with people not wanting to be around my smoke, but we gave ya the resturants and the planes, not jsut part but the whole damned plane, you non smokers are lucky we dont go batshit on a 6 hour flight and start killing people on the plane to get the nicotine under thier fingernails.If I dont get a smoke every 3 or 4 hours atleast I tend to get a bit snippy and that always leads to violence because some asshole is going to open thier mouth and say something that normally I only think about hitting them for.Just like last night at the game, when they gave my son a foul, emotions are hot at the games to begin with but then the opposing teams coach has to start yelling shit about kicking him out for that foul even though he was 10 feet from the kid that was going to take the shots. I told him to shut up and he ofered to kick my ass, he had that coming, pull back the right fist and everyone looks at it and never sees the left hook coming. Had I been allowed to smoke he wouldnt be going to work this morning with a black eye.smoking keeps us calmer, think about hte violence in the world today, do ya want that increased by making it impossible for us to smoke?

Well I dunno if anger because of lack of nicotine is really a good argument for this case LOL.look at it from our side though, Chance. Second hand smoek is mroe deadly than first hand smoke. I chose not to smoke because of the chance of Cancer, and plus it's just a gross habit. But if I want to go out with my friends I have to be forced tobreath in everyones smoke and taking a risk of possible cancer down the line.. for something I chose not to bed (smoking). I just strongly feel smoking should not be allowed in public places UNLESS there are designated smokign rooms, like hospitals. The hospitals here have specials rooms outside the building for smokers. If they would do something similar for other public places, that to me that's cool! This way both smokers and non-smokers can go out in peace and smokers can still get the addiction hehe.

Eh it was written in half sarcasm, I hit that coach for being an ass and because he needed to be put in his place and remember that he isnt invincible just because hes a coach o a basketball team, not because I hadnt had a smoke.Honestly I unsderstand not wanting the smoke and I dont care if there are some rules to smoking but Im not willing to give up everyplace.They took away the bowling alleys, the resturants, the plane, the train, the overhang on a building during the rain. I pay outrageoud sin taxes to drink and smoke, I fund this shit. I dont think it should be a problem i light of the health discoverys about smoking to keep some areas were there is no smoking but there needs to be places where you can as well.Anyone can open thier own pool hall or bar ro anything else and declare this is a no smoking zone.there is a real desire for places like that. How much money could you make by having one in a populated area?

They took away the bowling alleys, the resturants, the plane, the train, the overhang on a building during the rain. woah you have a poets heart chance LOL

I agree I think there needs to be a way that smokers don't get "jipped" when they go out. Only thing that comes to my mind is smoking rooms.

I dunno it'll be interesting to see what happens here lockally with the smoking ban they are trying to pass.

As a former cancer-stick lover, I do not think that it anyones place to say "you're fired" just because you smoke. To me, that's like firing someone just because they wear black shoes to work instead of wearing brown. It is not their buisness if you choose to smoke at home... I say if you want to smoke then go for it. The only time I have a problem with someone smoking is when they're smoking in a prohibited area. If there are signs up asking you not to smoke then DON'T smoke, walk your happy butt somewhere else that allows you to fill your lungs with that toxic crap. I used to smoke so I know what it's like to crave a cigarette (hell I still want to go out and buy a pack somedays), but I also know that it's wrong to disrespect someone by smoking around them when they don't smoke themselves. If they don't smoke, you don't light up in their car, their home, anywhere around them because thats rude to me. You don't HAVE to have a cigarette, and it wont kill you to wait till you're in the comfort of your own home or where smoking is accepted. Bah, I'm just ranting now and I'm probably not making sense so I'll be quiet now lol

I don't think it's a good idea for an employer to evaluate the safety of what their employees do off the job. (How about dangerous sports? You can get hurt skiing, playing basketball, driving, mountain climbing, engaging in risky sexual behavior, pulling people out of burning cars, etc.). However, in the 20 empoyment-at-will states, an employer can hire you or fire you for any reson or no reason, other than protected classifications, like gender, age, ethnicity, etc..That means that, in most places, you can be fired if your employer is not pleased with your sexual orientation.Ntro> Second hand smoek is mroe deadly than first hand smoke.Second-hand smoke seems to be very bad, but don't you think that's rather an exaggeration?

Up intil the layoff I worked explosives, no smoking period. It was understandable. But at breaks and lunch I smoked, 500 yards off in a contained building with a fire system and ventilation system and a 100' fire break of gravel around the building.thats 3 smokes a day from the time I get out of the car until I get off 10 hours (10 1/2 if you include the unpaid lunch) later.Ther was no lost production due to me. I skipped many breaks with no extra pay to get shit done when we were behind so production was increased do to me, a smoker.Are they shitty things that wil kill me eventually assuming someone doesnt kill me first? yesshuld the additives be legal and sold? no fucking way.But they are and i smoke, its my choice.On my time an at my designated breaks Ill do what i like if its smoking or wacking off to pictures of baby goats in the shitter.Drinking will kill you too, and in a shorter time frame in many cases. Smoking hasnt ruined my life but many peoples lives have been ruined by drinking.I climb, I back pack, Iv been up over 15000 feet. I quit smoking a month before major trips and I start again on the summit o the mountain. I play basketball I play hockey. My endourance would be better no doubt if I didnt smoke but it is my choice, I know the risks, I know the final outcome of it, Im an adult its no different then any dangerous thngs that many people do. climbing,sky diving, base jumping, hang gliding.I do what I want and will continue to do so. This includes smoking and drinking.Angel thanks or the compliment, it jsut came out that way I didnt realize till you mentioned it that it was almost a poem

No it's not an exaggeration. Perhaps you never seen the studies or even the commercials stating second hand smoke it actually more deadly than first hand because it's not filtered. Here are a few places on facts about second smoke:http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35422http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/PED_10_2X_Environmental_Tobacco_Smoke-Clean_Indoor_Air.asphttp://www.cdc-cdh.edu/hospital/cardio/chua128.htmlA quote from this link is as follows:Is true that secondhand smoke is more toxic? Yes, it has been scientifically proven that secondhand smokes are more dangerous to health than firsthand smoke. The smoker, who inhales the (mainstream) smoke "filters" it so some degree before exhaling it, but the non-smoker around him/her inhales the "pure" and more dangerous sidestream smoke. Besides the tar and nicotine in secondhand smoke, there are several cancer-causing substances in secondhand smoke, and in much higher concentration than in mainstream smoke. So, the person who smokes in public, around people, is giving himself/herself a lower dose of poisons, and giving his victims (family members, friends and strangers) around him/her a higher and a more deadly dose of poison. Anymore facts needed?

The greatest percent of second hand smoke is filtered.that that burns of the end is a small amount and is not filtered the rest is filtered first by being drawn thru a filter and then filtered again by my lungs.Second hand smoke does contain more carbon monoxide as its concentrated by the lungs and exhaled, you get that all the time by breathing though.shit, am I saying htat right? is carbon monoxide or dioxide? I cant keep the two straight. One of those anyways.

it has been scientifically proven...Whenver you see this phrase in an article aimed at the public, your should be skeptical.> that secondhand smokes are more dangerous to health than firsthand smoke.That may very well be true...but it's possible that it's not. But it's pretty clear that second-hand smoke is toxic. The problem is that if you make a big claim, and it turns out to be untrue, people who don't want to listen in the first place to people will say "See! There's nothing wrong with smoking!", since they're already looking for a reason not to listen.In any case, the important thing is that there is overwhelming evidence that first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke are both very bad for people and other living things.

I agree with those staements.I dont smoke in my own home or the car if the kids are with me. Never in the house if kids are here or not.In someone elses car I dont smoke unless they do. Id never smoke in my own home so unless they smoke in thiers neither do I.I did pick up some asshole hitchiking one night, it was last winter and it was snowing like a bastard and his car off the road in a ditch. I picked him up and was driving nearly 20 miles out of my way to get his frozen, too cool to wear a coat, besides Im in a warm car, ass to where he could get someone to meet him ater he used my cell phone and my minutes. He had the fucking nerve to tellme not to smoke in my own fucking car at 1 am in a fucking storm. I pulled over and booted his ass out and let him take the rest of that 20 mile walk in the cold.My car, My rules, dont like it? Walk.