Richmond, VA Hospital System will no longer hire nicotine users, including vapers...

[drumtrip]

Bon Secours specifically banning all nicotine use by new hires. Include electronic cigarettes. Not a very good message to send to those trying to quit analogs...

Hospitals won't hire smokers | Richmond Times-Dispatch

 

[emanguba]

That sucks...

 

[Cool_Breeze]

The efforts to marginalize a substantial portion of the population continue...

 

[fb305]

That's ridiculous, last time I checked nicotine, and tobacco too for that matter are not illegal in this country. I can understand banning smoking and vaping on the premises but they want to control what their employees do on their own time. What's the difference in that and not hiring people who are over weight or drink alcohol on their own time? It's a shame that the job market is so bad in this country that they can even get away with that!

 

[Str8V8ping]

I would hire a smoker over a alcoholic any day . Seriously cigs are legal . It should be against the law for anyone to not hire you for smoking at least until smoking is illegal . Whats next ,overweight people wont get hired cuz that could be more unhealthy then cigs . I think every doctor iv been to has been overweight . Should they all be fired too and further increase our countries unemployment rate .

 

[hairball]

Unfortunately, they won't be hired because hospitals want to promote a healthy lifestyle. It's sad to see this happen and nothing can be done about it.

 

[Jaguar G]

Here's a thought; hire the best person for the job.

 

[DigiTechDude]

These hospitols have every right to hire (or not hire) whoever they want, for any reason. Be it, smokers, vapers, alcoholics, blacks, people without degrees, people without previous medical experience, etc. It's a business and can be run however the owners and investors see fit. This is free market economics. Creating laws to restrict how they can run their businesses, like the MANY they already have to obey or be shut down, fined (taxed), etc. will only increase the cost of medical services and cause them to be even more "exclusive".

 

[pianoguy]

Get on your state representatives to pass a lifestyle protection law that will prevent companies from engaging in this BS.

 

[Jaguar G]

These hospitols have every right to hire (or not hire) whoever they want, for any reason. Be it, smokers, vapers, alcoholics, blacks, people without degrees, people without previous medical experience, etc. It's a business and can be run however the owners and investors see fit. This is free market economics. Creating laws to restrict how they can run their businesses, like the MANY they already have to obey or be shut down, fined (taxed), etc. will only increase the cost of medical services and cause them to be even more "exclusive".

That is true, but I would prefer the best person for the job be hired, especially when when my life may be at stake. I am not from this location, but Baylor here in TX recently did the same thing, and I disagree with it. I would rather have a doctor who is excellent and smokes than one who is a screw up, but hey, he doesn't smoke.

As a patient I would prefer the best person for the job over extraneous BS like this.

Just my $0.02.

Jag

 

[lion6255]

I live here and alot of even non smokers are upset due to the fact they are being predjudice. I think it sucks myself. I think I would prefer the best Doc working on me.

 

[swedishfish]

These hospitols have every right to hire (or not hire) whoever they want, for any reason. Be it, smokers, vapers, alcoholics, blacks, people without degrees, people without previous medical experience, etc. It's a business and can be run however the owners and investors see fit. This is free market economics. Creating laws to restrict how they can run their businesses, like the MANY they already have to obey or be shut down, fined (taxed), etc. will only increase the cost of medical services and cause them to be even more "exclusive".

Explain to me again how a hospital is allowed to discriminate (your words-not hire blacks) because it somehow keeps the costs of medical services down.

This ought to be good.

 

[Jaguar G]

Explain to me again how a hospital is allowed to discriminate (your words-not hire blacks) because it somehow keeps the costs of medical services down.

This ought to be good.

While I agree with free association, there are laws against discrimination. Good point.

 

[ambientech]

It's all good because they are already talking about adding sin taxes to soda and fast food. Next will be booze then cholesterol then weight then a dna test looking for markers of diseases you may develop later in life. All of those people who wanted to discriminate against legal activities will regret the door they opened

 

[DigiTechDude]

That is true, but I would prefer the best person for the job be hired, especially when when my life may be at stake. I am not from this location, but Baylor here in TX recently did the same thing, and I disagree with it. I would rather have a doctor who is excellent and smokes than one who is a screw up, but hey, he doesn't smoke.

As a patient I would prefer the best person for the job over extraneous BS like this.

I absolutely agree. The thing is, it's not necessarily a matter of either a smoker who is the best, or a non smoker who is a screw up. So long as there are enough very capable, competent, and skilled non-nicotine using doctors there will be no reason for the power that be at that organization to set aside their prejudice against nicotine users. That's fine though, it is what it is. In my area there are several hospitols I can use. They are not all run by the same people or group and they each have certain areas of expertise. Competition and the free market win in the end.

 

[DigiTechDude]

Explain to me again how a hospital is allowed to discriminate (your words-not hire blacks) because it somehow keeps the costs of medical services down.

This ought to be good.

They are not allowed to discriminate because it keeps costs down (discriminating against minorities does not). They are have the right, as businesses owned and run by individuals, to run their business as they see fit, to hire those they choose to based upon any criteria, and to serve customers as they see fit. These are individual liberties, natural rights, which are protected in this country. Laws restricting how an individual can run his business are violations of that individual's Constitutional rights, and are detrimental to the business and to customers. Costs increase for many reasons, among them less choice to the owner for how to run the business efficiently and cost effectively, less choice to market the business as the owner sees fit, among other reasons.

 

[Baldr]

Baylor Hospital (based in Dallas, but they have a lot of branches outside Dallas) announced this same "No nicotine" policy not long ago.

 

[Baldr]

Explain to me again how a hospital is allowed to discriminate (your words-not hire blacks) because it somehow keeps the costs of medical services down.

This ought to be good.

Neither smokers or vapers are a legally protected class.

 

[Taniger1]

Actually this is going to be pretty funny. Strangly enough, most respiratory therapists smoke. Nurses, and support staff. I know a few Doc's who smoke but I'll grant you not many Doc's. With healthcare folk more and more in demand, well, we'll see how well they do. I bet this ends up being what they call a "black law" meaning it's on the books but not enforced. It will end up getting used to fire or let someone go whom "somebody" has a beef against.

 

[Nicko]

After working in nursing homes for five years, I can assure you, if they tried that there, they wouldn't have many staff left to care for the residents. Nursing is a stressful job. I'm sure that's why so many nurses smoke. Nicotine relieves stress. I would rather be judged on my work ability than my choice of stimulant.