This is happening at my work

[gingersnaps]

I just found out about them starting this at my job starting jan 1. it specifically says ecigs in the tobacco use description. but nothing about patches or gum which is bs to me. it also says I may be randomly tested if I say I dont use tobacco and if nic is found I can loose all med benifits. I really think this is just going way to far.

 

[damthisisfun]

Lets say I tell em I dont use nicotine and continue to vape. They test for nicotine or whatever - that doesnt really prove I vape or smoke - it could be from 2nd hand smoke. I got friends that smoke in their houses and I hang out with em. Wouldn't this pose a probable issue with folks that really dont use any type of nicotine? Not sure if is was in this post or another one that had a link to I believe it was Cigna's website that actually suggest smokers should use e-cigs as an alternative......this is crazy....

 

[KANGAROOSTER]

you have to go online and answer yes or no. But the yes or no supposedly says...smoker/tobacco user or non-smoker/no tobacco user.

If this is the way it is actually written, you can rest assured and say "non-smoker/non-tobacco user" with honesty. Smokers refers to people who smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and tobacco user refers to people who use chewing tobacco, like skoal, snus, etc.

 

[SlimXero]

Personally, I think this is a positive thing. There are many government agencies around here that will not hire people who use nicotine products AT ALL, I'd be happy with a $30 surcharge to be able to still get a job.

 

[damthisisfun]

That is something I thought as well - $30 surcharge??? Really?? that is gonna want to make me quit??? - dang I used to spend more than that in 5 days on them cancer sticks......

 

[Highwayman1224]

My company is classifying ecigs as tobacco as well & I will be paying $20 more per check which is $40 more per month. It's because of the nicotine. What a joke!! It's amazing that we took up vaping to lead a somewhat healthier lifestyle & then get punished for it! I've never tried 0 nic juice, but maybe i'll order some & see how I do, that way they can shove their $40 up their ***!

 

[ninjuh]

That also means they will have to include nicotine testing in with the random urinalysis, which costs the company more..

Give it some time, you may find through word of mouth they aren't doing any actual tests for nicotine. And if that's the case, as long as you don't go to work smelling like cigarette, they'll never know what you vape, nicotine or not.

 

[SissySpike]

Where will it stop? How about another 25$ if you eat at Burger king once a week. And another 30 if you drink coffee, and make it 50 if you have a monster. Good lord people I am violated and mad over this and its not even happening to me! Did we forget we are Americans? Dont let these people take your rights away this is serious! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I just cant believe this is acceptable!!!!! Im glad I dont work in an office I am not good at following rules just because they are there. OK IM gone from this thread Im going to end up with a warning or lose some more points!!!!! Ive only put a small portion of what I think of these scum bags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[klynnn]

Just wait till next year when all the other taxes nobody read about hit. I am so glad I'm retired, I may be broke but I don't have to put up with the BS anymore.

 

[DC2]

Where will it stop? How about another 25$ if you eat at Burger king once a week. And another 30 if you drink coffee, and make it 50 if you have a monster. Good lord people I am violated and mad over this and its not even happening to me! Did we forget we are Americans? Dont let these people take your rights away this is serious!!

They make these changes slowly, so society will accept them as being not as bad as things could be.
And 10 years later, they have you accepting things you never would have 10 years earlier.

And when you look in the mirror things are as bad, or even worse, than you ever would have accepted.

It's time to wake up.
No, it's well past time to wake up.

Just look what they've done to cigarette smokers.
That is their gameplan in action, and what a success it has been.

That is the same gameplan they will continue to follow.

 

[Racehorse]

......this is crazy....

No, it's just a small footprint in the usual path of insurance companies figuring out how to get out of paying claims. Nothing new here at all, really. Just more hoops to jump through.

Govt is run by big corporations and big pharma and big agriculture and big......whatever. It's unmitigated greed. The problem is, our govt. is going along with it, and that saddens me. But the primary blame lies with the former....they are the initiators.

Last time I looked insurance companies were corporations.

It is interesting though....the food manufacturers are busy putting additives and sugar in every single thing, and then people who eat it are penalized by the insurance companies when they get diabetes, obesity, heart attacks.

For all I know, they are subsidiaries of each other.

I don't know who you guys are talking about when you say "they". I do know who I mean though, when I talk about it.

Then read Wheat Belly.

 

[Racehorse]

BMI is already being used by some companies. Tho the one I work for uses it in a bit of a reverse way. Every year we do a biometric screening (voluntary) and if the BMI is in the healthy range we get a bonus in January. Same for blood pressure. If it's in the healthy range, boom, there's another bonus.

I have always felt that it is better to encourage people to go TOWARD something, than away from something. Reward them for moving toward healthier lifestyles.

I believe that works w/raising kids, too. Avoiding punishment is not as psychologiclally healthy as moving toward good behavior.

I know people who say they are "against war." I think it is better to just be "for" peace.

It seems very unhealthy and stressful to me that people are always saying what they're against, and it's like beating heads against wall, and it causes them to be *angry*. Whereas, if the paradigm changed and people could focus on what they what they are *for*, then they have a much more positive outlook and positive path ahead of them in life.

I really dislike being around *angry* people. They're such a downer.

 

[klynnn]

I wonder if any of it works anymore. Sometimes all this tech is not what it's cracked up to be. I fear for the future.

 

[Mac]

It is so easy to beat a nicotine urinalysis test and I guarantee that since the motivation here is corporate greed that these guys are not going to spring for a test more accurate then the NAD.

Here is a helpful guide:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/outside/108748-how-beat-nicotine-urinalysis-screening.html

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

I have always felt that it is better to encourage people to go TOWARD something, than away from something. Reward them for moving toward healthier lifestyles.

I believe that works w/raising kids, too. Avoiding punishment is not as psychologiclally healthy as moving toward good behavior.

I know people who say they are "against war." I think it is better to just be "for" peace.

It seems very unhealthy and stressful to me that people are always saying what they're against, and it's like beating heads against wall, and it causes them to be *angry*. Whereas, if the paradigm changed and people could focus on what they what they are *for*, then they have a much more positive outlook and positive path ahead of them in life.

I really dislike being around *angry* people. They're such a downer.

Yeah. I've watched many a coworker of mine improve their overall health once these "Healthy Rewards" came about. It started out as something like $100 for doing a basic PHA, $100 for a healthy BMI, and $100 for healthy blood pressure. Now it's $150 each for BMI and BP. The PHA is required to start the ball rolling. I see a lot more people walking around our small lake on the lunch break instead of sitting in the break room watching TV. I've noticed healthier lunches. As a smoker, my BP was always right in the range very close to what is often called "Pre Hypertension." I haven't had a chance to sit at any kind of BP testing machine since I started vaping 5m ago, but I'm certain it's going to be a lot lower. Heh, now if I could just cut back on the beer, my gut would go away I am sure ... but I squeak in on the "healthy BMI number, so I get the full reward every year. Provari or vacation ... Provari or vacation. Now there's a debate.

 

[NICnurse]

The test that is done on me, a needle is stuck into the main artery in your wrist or elbow... under the nerve. It is an ABG or Arterial Blood Gas test and it is extremely painful. I can never lie and say I haven't smoked a cig because they will know. And yes, it is the most painful test I have had done thus far.

Yes, ABG tests can be painful......but they cannot tell if you smoke or not. ABG tests show your body pH, your carbon DIOXIDE levels, and your oxygen saturation along with your bicarb levels in your body. ABG's are used to show how the body is functioning in regards to acid/alkaline status and if your numbers are out of whack it helps determine if you are in respiratory or metabolic acidosis/alkalosis.

Not to sound like a nit pick here at all.....just thought that this needed correcting. I am a critical care certified RN and draw ABG's daily at work. Never once has our pulmonary attending looked at an ABG and said anything about the pt being a smoker or not.

 

[DC2]

So ABG tests for carbon dioxide?

I thought there was a simple and effective test for carbon monoxide that can be used to identify a true smoker.
As opposed, of course, to a nicotine user.

 

[pyro13g]

Where I work you have to answer Yes if anyone covered by your insurance uses nicotine.

 

[nobutts1]

There is no way I would EVER sign as a smoker, as you are not. They can test you all they want, every human has a trace of nicotine in their blood!!!!

 

[DC2]

There is no way I would EVER sign as a smoker, as you are not. They can test you all they want, every human has a trace of nicotine in their blood!!!!

That advice could well be a recipe for disaster.