Smoke-free workplace testing

[Vapoor eyes er]

Fed legislation is moving slowly so some States have gone ahead making it illegal
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57561743-93/six-states-outlaw-employer-snooping-on-facebook/

They can really ask for your FB password???

 

[Leatherneck]

Fed legislation is moving slowly so some States have gone ahead making it illegal
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57561743-93/six-states-outlaw-employer-snooping-on-facebook/

Which, IMO, is how it should be.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Agree.
Have never used FB or any Social Media website because of privacy concerns HOWEVER I do visit a fellow trader's Twitter page because it's realtime....no Twitter Acct though.

Which, IMO, is how it should be.

 

[babyk1352012]

Frankly that's noones business. if someone wants to smoke on their break, who are they to say you can't? and who are you to tell me I can't use a healthier alternative to tobacco? I am healthy now after quitting tobacco, no more asthma, no hacking cough, no smelly clothes, no second hand smoke! No 4000 plus chemicals polluting my body. Companies need to learn their place. Testing for drugs I totally agree with because they are mind altering, im totally against drugs. But testing for something that has no mind altering effect is rediculous.

 

[chartreuse]

It's very scary what companies put you through these days, from drug testing, wanting your Facebook password, credit checks... It's just out of control.

I have perfected a method for succinctly explaining the facts of life to potential employers who think they can get away with such rubbish.

It involves the "F" word, the "C" word and several others - but mainly those two.

 

[Disconnect]

Frankly that's noones business. if someone wants to smoke on their break, who are they to say you can't? and who are you to tell me I can't use a healthier alternative to tobacco? I am healthy now after quitting tobacco, no more asthma, no hacking cough, no smelly clothes, no second hand smoke! No 4000 plus chemicals polluting my body. Companies need to learn their place. Testing for drugs I totally agree with because they are mind altering, im totally against drugs. But testing for something that has no mind altering effect is rediculous.

Er, nicotine is mind altering, mood altering and highly addictive. Not all of the effects are bad, but it has quite a few effects on the body and brain. Otherwise we'd all have just set them down and walked away with no problems and this forum would be dedicated to the growing hard-candy-making cottage industry

You could draw reasonable comparisons between nicotine and (stupid filter. an illegal white powder), for example. (Not necessarily at the level that it is on the street, but remember that it used to be used as a mild stimulant in half of everything. Very similar to how we use caffeine now.) The biggest difference is that nicotine products are legal for adults and "drugs" aren't.

 

[dgm76513]

It's definitely an employer's market.

I'm not too fond of the fact that there are employers out there who expect their employees to live at work. No time for the family, nothing. Work work work. And they expect you to accept less and less pay each year.

I'm all for having a good work ethic, but there has to be a line drawn. I don't like the feeling of being "owned" by a company.

To stay on topic, I worked at a place that started the policy of "tobacco users pay more insurance" as well as a ban on tobacco on the entire base (FAA Designated Repair Station) as well as a "no walking outside the perimiter and smoking on breaks" policy. Then they introduced the "no tobacco products inside the gate PERIOD" policy, but they didn't really enforce it.

Your friend could just say that they're on NRT. Maybe that would help?

 

[Uncle Willie]

I don't think there would be anything wrong with actually telling the prospective employer that you are a former smoker, have not smoked in X- months / years .. and currently under NRT .. to flat out refuse a job, especially if it's a better job than you have or if you have no job at all is not a great idea .. in this market ..

Employers have the right to set policy as they see fit ..

 

[Iron Molly]

This quote from the ACLU sums it up pretty well for me:

"Why shouldn't employers be able to restrict their employees' high-risk behavior?
Risks are associated with nearly every personal lifestyle choice we make--from smoking cigarettes, to sitting in the sun, to having children. Where do we draw the line as to what our employer can regulate? The real issue here is the individual right to lead our lives as we choose. It is important that we preserve the distinction between company time and the sanctity of our private lives."

 

[dragonfly72]

This is in PA too. Geisinger health systems test all prospective employees for nicotine. You are not hired if you test positive.
I think it is ridiculous and I'm sure after a few years and many costly legal battles this too will come to an end...or lets hope so.

 

[Leatherneck]

Employers have the right to set policy as they see fit ..

Sure they do. And I have the right of refusal. I disagree with this section, "to flat out refuse a job, especially if it's a better job than you have or if you have no job at all is not a great idea". I'd rather not compromise my principles for a job, and I won't. If that means taking a lesser paying, less fulfilling job, so be it.

 

[chartreuse]

I'd rather not compromise my principles for a job, and I won't.

Very well said!

 

[babyk1352012]

While yes it does have an effect on the brain, what i meant by mind altering is it is not going to affect how you do your job, it is not going to put you in a state of mind where you can't comprehend what you are doing or what is going on. When i said mind altering I'm pretty sure you know what i mean.

Er, nicotine is mind altering, mood altering and highly addictive. Not all of the effects are bad, but it has quite a few effects on the body and brain. Otherwise we'd all have just set them down and walked away with no problems and this forum would be dedicated to the growing hard-candy-making cottage industry

You could draw reasonable comparisons between nicotine and (stupid filter. an illegal white powder), for example. (Not necessarily at the level that it is on the street, but remember that it used to be used as a mild stimulant in half of everything. Very similar to how we use caffeine now.) The biggest difference is that nicotine products are legal for adults and "drugs" aren't.