Smoke-free workplace testing

[The3ngineer]

I know someone who did not pursue a job offer because the company was a "smoke free" workplace. They made him an offer for employment but wanted to do nicotine testing as part of the pre-employment screening process, so he declined the offer. How would you guys handle this scenario or has anyone dealt with this? I don't really see the employer buying into the e-cig thing as a healthy alternative or as an excuse to having nicotine in your system. He is an e-cig smoker.

 

[Leatherneck]

Frankly, if at all possible, I will not take a job at a place with nicotine testing. That's way too far inside the wire for my comfort.

 

[spaz33g]

nicotine testing?! that is absurd. i didn't even know that was a thing. I'm with leatherneck, I would respectfully decline a job offer for an employer that did nicotine testing.


that's outrageous.

 

[The3ngineer]

It must be a Texas thing. We are also a "fire at will" state so this is fitting. The nicotine testing is picking up speed pretty fast. Someone in HR told me that smokers work on average 200 hours less per year (according to studies) than a non-smoker, take more sick days, and their medical coverage ends up being much higher, so it makes sense. A quick google search just verified this information.

 

[spaz33g]

yeah i guess from a business standpoint that makes sense but what's next? refusing to hire someone with ibs because they'll be in the bathroom too much? i am in california though where more and more places have stopped drug testing because if they did half the state would be unemployed lol.

 

[Steeler Girl]

It's not just a Texas thing. It is happening all over Ohio. A few people I know have been subjected. Both were non smokers so they had no issues. I would probably look for employment elsewhere. But with the job market being what it is that may not be an option for some. I say vape 0mg for a few weeks prior to th test. While that may not be entirely ethical, neither is nic testing imho.

 

[Dana A]

I don't care how many more hours people who smoke miss from work! That's just bogus!!! So what about pregnant a pregnant woman??? I was fired from a job at perkins when I was pregnant with my 1st child because I wasn't supposed to lift over 10 lbs in the last trimester so I was carrying smaller stacks of plates. I was pulled into the office and let go. All I can say is WOW!! What the h... is this country coming to????

 

[The3ngineer]

but what's next? refusing to hire someone with ibs because they'll be in the bathroom too much?

The harsh reality. I am FAA regulated in my career, even though I am not a pilot, I cannot drink anything alcoholic during the week for fear of a random onsite test.

 

[spaz33g]

its all about that bottom dollar i guess. i find it a little bit sad.

 

[The3ngineer]

I don't care how many more hours people who smoke miss from work! That's just bogus!!! So what about pregnant a pregnant woman??? I was fired from a job at perkins when I was pregnant with my 1st child because I wasn't supposed to lift over 10 lbs in the last trimester so I was carrying smaller stacks of plates. I was pulled into the office and let go. All I can say is WOW!! What the h... is this country coming to????

Well I know in Texas you would definitely have job security as a pregnant employee. Being fired while pregnant is a lawsuit waiting to happen. There was a girl at my work who got fired for stealing and my company had to settle with her because she just mumbled the words pregnant. You getting fired for not being able to meet the physical demands while in your third trimester is just crazy. They did you a favor by showing their true colors, you don't want to work for someone like that. Compassion and humanity has definitely taken a backseat in this country.

 

[Jaysin]

The Sheriffs Office here does this. We are about to merge with them. Thank god my job will still be with the board of county commisioners. I am wondering when jobs will start screening for BMI. Obesity causes more missed days at work and higher medical bills than smoking does! Gain to much weight and fired!

 

[GalenCopes]

The new health care law allows insurance companies to charge up to a 50% surcharge for tobacco users and companies will have to absorb some of these costs if they decide to provide their employees with insurance instead of taking the penalty. My company already now asks about tobacco usage and there is a much higher insurance cost for tobacco users. I not only listed myself as a non-smoker, I also introduced the insurance reps to vaping and had about half of them interested in vaping for themselves and their families.

Galen

 

[Iron Molly]

Well, it turns out that taking small breaks from work throughout the day INCREASES productivity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/jobs/take-breaks-regularly-to-stay-on-schedule-workstation.html?_r=0

Whether you smoke on your break or not, the break itself appears to be a positive thing!

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.

 

[Bobo25]

He was right to refuse the offer, I would have too. Bloody cheek. Preventing smoking in the work place is one thing but whether you smoke or not is your own business.

 

[D4rk50ul]

That is discrimination and I'm almost positive it would get shot down in courts. There is so many lawsuits over stuff like this I'm shocked they would even risk it.

Being obese is harder on your health than smoking, so are they going to stay weighing potential new hires? Pretty sure drinkers are less than ideal as well, along with a ton of other personal choices people make.

Pretty sad if this is really happening. If they hassle you I would just say "I intake nicotine in a non harmful way that like caffeine boosts my energy and work output level while keeping me very focused on the task at hand". "I thought being a company who obviously believes they have the very best humanity has to offer working for them would know these things."

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Dana A]

They can really ask for your FB password???

 

[dbeast64]

They can really ask for your FB password???

I've seen a couple of stories on the local news where people have refused jobs due to the fact potential employers asking for their passwords. They claim it is to check out a person's employer loyalty..... (BS)

 

[Disconnect]

Most states have started declaring the social media scans illegal. (It is still totally legit to view the public portions of their page, however. We bounced a couple of resumes pre-interview due to the complete bat-puke crazy nature of their public FB pages..)

As far as the nicotine tests, even my wife (never a smoker) thinks that sort of thing is going too far. She's of the shocking opinion that smokers are still people and should be allowed to have basic rights. There are jobs where smoke breaks during the day are not feasible/possible (eg cleanroom work) but either you adapt or it becomes a performance issue. (If you are so stressed at the end of the day from not smoking that you can't do your job, then it isn't the right job for you..)

 

[D4rk50ul]

I've seen a couple of stories on the local news where people have refused jobs due to the fact potential employers asking for their passwords. They claim it is to check out a person's employer loyalty..... (BS)

That is totally ridiculous. Corporate America can get away with murder these days. I remember a certain firm using questions about lifestyle to screen hires.

Samples:

Would you or have you sky dived or bungee jumped?

Do you enjoy extreme sports?

If you showed any interest in anything other than sleeping and working you got red flagged.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Leatherneck]

Someone in HR told me that smokers work on average 200 hours less per year (according to studies) than a non-smoker, take more sick days, and their medical coverage ends up being much higher, so it makes sense.

Sure. And that would be great if the only way to get nicotine in your system was smoking, but it's not.

Yah, they can ask for your Facebook password. Totally legal.

Or maybe they'll do something sneakier. If, like me, you have your profile set to private, they can try looking at your friend list, find the guys on there listed as single, fake together a pretty girl's profile and send a friend request to them. Then, if you're not quite as paranoid as I am, you have it set so friends of friends can see posts, they can look to see if you're doing anything they don't approve of.

Personally, I have it trimmed down to friends only.