Can't get a job if you are a smoker!!!

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CharlesMaples

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May 11, 2009
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Tampa Fl
Here's something I don't get (which are numerous when it comes to this way of thinking lol)...

<rant>
The big excuse for these smoking bans for hiring is the cost of insurance due to the large amount of smoking related illnesses. I am diabetic with high cholesterol (neither are smoking related). No one else in my office smokes, yet many routinely get sick (when I don't) and most go to the doctor at least once per month (more than I do). Additionally, when I do go in to the doctor to get prescriptions refilled, the office is packed, and I would wager most of those people are non-smokers with non-smoking related illnesses.

The last stats I saw said only about 20% of the US population smoke, yet healthcare costs are through the roof, I just can't see how "smoking related illnesses" are the only reason. If smoking were abolished and all smokers (or anyone that thinks about smoking) were eliminated once and for all, would there no longer be a need for hospitals or doctors?

That's how they make it sound.
</rant>

CG

Why should a business have to make any excuse ?
 

Txrider

Senior Member
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Apr 3, 2009
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Here's something I don't get (which are numerous when it comes to this way of thinking lol)...

<rant>
The big excuse for these smoking bans for hiring is the cost of insurance due to the large amount of smoking related illnesses. I am diabetic with high cholesterol (neither are smoking related). No one else in my office smokes, yet many routinely get sick (when I don't) and most go to the doctor at least once per month (more than I do). Additionally, when I do go in to the doctor to get prescriptions refilled, the office is packed, and I would wager most of those people are non-smokers with non-smoking related illnesses.

The last stats I saw said only about 20% of the US population smoke, yet healthcare costs are through the roof, I just can't see how "smoking related illnesses" are the only reason. If smoking were abolished and all smokers (or anyone that thinks about smoking) were eliminated once and for all, would there no longer be a need for hospitals or doctors?

That's how they make it sound.
</rant>

CG

I smoke and haven't been sick or to a doctor in a decade.. More health cost my .....
 

Bill Godshall

Executive Director<br/> Smokefree Pennsylvania
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From 1988 to 1996, about half of the states enacted laws (lobbied for by large cigarette companies) that prohibit employment discrimination against smokers and/or other tobacco/nicotine users. And nearly all of those state laws contain many exemptions (e.g. health organizations, fire/police/EMT, employers with fewer than 25 employees).

Florida is not one of those states, and many local governments in Florida have policies to not hire smokers (primarily fire/police/EMT).

While I've long defended the right of employers to not hire cigarette smokers (just as employers have a right to not hire users of marijuana), abstinence-only anti-tobacco extremists have been encouraging some employers to expand their policies to also apply to any nicotine use (which is an irrational policy since the smoke, not the nicotine, is causes the problems).

About 5%-10% of employers have hiring policies requiring that cigarette smokers quit as a condition of employment, and only a few employers have policies that apply to any nicotine use.

Most of the employers with these typed of policies do not conduct nicotine tests (carbon monoxide tests are more common), and most of those employers only take action if/when an employee is seen smoking cigarettes.

Since the nicotine tests cannot discern whether the nicotine came from cigarette, smokeless, an e-cigarette or a nicotine skin patch, the legality of the use of nicotine tests may be challengable in court.
 

TropicalBob

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We are seeing "ban" signs change in Florida. My wife works as secretary to a college president and the entire campus is going "tobacco free". Not smokefree. Tobaccofree. New signs are going up, "No Tobacco Use Allowed on this Campus".

Such a prohibition covers snus and dissolvables, of course.

What will they make of vaping if e-cigs advance beyond being a curiosity of the few to a preference of the many?
 

Vicks Vap-oh-Yeah

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We are seeing "ban" signs change in Florida. My wife works as secretary to a college president and the entire campus is going "tobacco free". Not smokefree. Tobaccofree. New signs are going up, "No Tobacco Use Allowed on this Campus".

Such a prohibition covers snus and dissolvables, of course.

What will they make of vaping if e-cigs advance beyond being a curiosity of the few to a preference of the many?


Wisconsin is joining the bandwagon, as well....not as restrictive yet, but the way the climate in this country is changing, I could well see them following Florida's example....we go smokefree (not tobacco free) in a year - just got signed into law.
 

OutWest

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Feb 8, 2009
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We are seeing "ban" signs change in Florida. My wife works as secretary to a college president and the entire campus is going "tobacco free". Not smokefree. Tobaccofree. New signs are going up, "No Tobacco Use Allowed on this Campus".

Such a prohibition covers snus and dissolvables, of course.

What will they make of vaping if e-cigs advance beyond being a curiosity of the few to a preference of the many?
There is at least on university in Oklahoma that's the same way - no tobacco use of any kind allowed on campus.
 

Kitabz

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We are seeing "ban" signs change in Florida. My wife works as secretary to a college president and the entire campus is going "tobacco free". Not smokefree. Tobaccofree. New signs are going up, "No Tobacco Use Allowed on this Campus".

Such a prohibition covers snus and dissolvables, of course.

This is shocking news TB, do you happen to know what the declared reason for this is? (I mean it's clearly not the safety of others since there is no "passive" with smokeless tobacco so I'm curious to know what the logic is.)

Do you know if they have any plans for caffeine free also (no, I'm not joking)?
 

Tallgirl1974

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Apr 23, 2009
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No, Have you read the defination of the word?

discrimination definition | Dictionary.com


You beat me to it. Also, if you dont think it is wrong, shall we have pedophiles working around children? Kleptomaniacs working at banks? People who outwardly profess that all "Americans are infidels and need to die" flying planes? You get on that plane, I'll pass tyvm!
Discrimination can be awesome. We don't have rights to work where ever we want. They have rules, you want to work there, then follow their rules.
Sucks but thats life kiddo.:)
 

Fox3

Senior Member
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Mar 24, 2009
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They may just as well put us all up against a wall and shoot us if they refuse to employ us.

They don't do that in the US anymore, they just destroy you financially. Keeps the power over and PC folks warm and fuzzy to think they don't do the same things that routinely happen in a particularly odious 3rd world dictatorship.

Oh, wait...
 

LaceyUnderall

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Last edited:

CharlesMaples

Full Member
May 11, 2009
48
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Tampa Fl
Yes. I still have a problem with it.

Edit: This is a government agency (state) and they are imposing a standard on a legal adult activity. Like I said in an earlier post, what's next years application look like?

they are an employer

you have the choice to work for them or not. So they are not imposing any standard on anyone. If you dont like the terms of the employment agreement dont take the job <g>
 

orlampagal

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I saw this ban on the news last summer...If they discriminate smokers they need to discriminate against others that have health issues like eating twinkies, fried chicken or drinking alcohol.
Overweight people cause insurance premiums to go up too b/c of various problems being overweight causes, but do they discriminate from hiring them?
It is not fair to just pick on the smokers.


Yes they sure do! Not only was I a smoker, but I am also about 70 lbs overweight. However, they never look past the fat to see that my cholesterol is 158, my BP is 118/76 and I don't suffer from anything more than food and dog allergies.

:p

I have been turned down for several jobs due to my physical appearance which is just plain asinine!
 

Rexa

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They can discriminate and I will tell you why. Because most discrimination laws pertaining to hiring of employees clearly dictates what 'form' of discrimination is not tolerated. If you read most of these law they don't simply state "discrimination is unlawful" they make sure to include instead "discrimination based upon gender, race," etc. See how tricky that can be :)

Also, I don't think you should've answered that you were a past smoker. I think any testing regarding nicotine could've either been completely random or used as a "scare tactic" and you would've past the test anyway. Nicotine does not permanently stay in your system. Depending on usaged you can probably get rid of it between 1 to 4 days (we'll say 4 days at most if you're a heavy nicotine user). Refer to this link about nicotine testing: Urine Test for Nicotine/Cotinine
 

LaceyUnderall

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Where's Tropical Bob! He needs to see this:

Of all of the infractions I have witnessed over the past few months regarding the ecig, Congress, this bill that bill... THIS is what makes my sunny day turn blue.

How is this really a free country when you can't even use a legal substance... even one that is FDA approved? (NRT's) When you have to even know where to locate a urine test to test your pee for a legal substance?

Oh it's so sad. What have we come to? :cry:
 

Kate51

Vaping Master
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Mar 27, 2009
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FYI this is only the beginning.

National health care etc. will make this a nightmare and there will be a push to control what your eat, drink, smoke, and likely even how much you exercise by a large lobby.

After all, it's not fair for me to have to pay the extra cost for your bad habits now is it?

Everybody just keep praying the this country is too far in debt so that they'll have to forget about National Health Care. Who in the H_ _ _ is going to be able to pay MORE TAXES...Now they're saying we need a 10-12% FEDERAL SALES TAX. WHAT, ON TOP OF OUR STATE + LOCAL 5.5% one?? Cripes, we'll be paying more for tax than anything is worth to begin with. STOP THE MADNESS
 

joannadiva

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May 5, 2009
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I saw this ban on the news last summer...If they discriminate smokers they need to discriminate against others that have health issues like eating twinkies, fried chicken or drinking alcohol.
Overweight people cause insurance premiums to go up too b/c of various problems being overweight causes, but do they discriminate from hiring them?
It is not fair to just pick on the smokers.


Actualy I think they should discriminate against married people with families. After all some one might have a fat, smoking spouse or fat smoking kids or worse a fertile wife, and you wouldn't want to have to insure all those children.

Have they gone completely ape S#!t with all the smokers hate.

Yes lets tax a highly additive substance by over 500%, and fund more important government projects like making Cheerios illegal. Anyone else p!$$ed off that the job in question was a government job? These idiots in charge need to watch out because if they make smokers unemployable who's gonna fund their nanny police state then.
 
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