Fire the smokers.... Looks like someone was inspired by the WTS....

by Elsewhere 29 Replies latest jw friends

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  Elsewhere

  http://www.wral.com/news/4126577/detail.html

  Looks like someone was inspired by the WTS........

  Company Fires All Employees Who Smoke
  Michigan Firm Won't Allow Smoking, Even On Employee's Own Time

  UPDATED: 8:20 AM EST January 25, 2005

  LANSING, Mich. -- Four employees of a health care company have been fired for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes.

  Weyco Inc., a health benefits administrator based in Okemos, Mich., adopted a policy Jan. 1 that allows employees to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking happens after business hours or at home.

  Company founder Howard Weyers has said the anti-smoking rule was designed to shield the firm from high health care costs. "I don't want to pay for the results of smoking," he said.

  The rule led one employee to quit before the policy was adopted. Four others were fired when they balked at the smoking test.

  Chief Financial Officer Gary Climes estimated that 18 to 20 of the company's 200 employers were smokers when the policy was announced in 2003. Of those, as many as 14 quit smoking before the policy went into effect. The company offered them help to kick the habit.

  "That is absolutely a victory," Climes said.
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  undercover

  Since when is smoking illegal? Wouldn't firing someone who smoked be discrimination of some kind? What about people dip snuff or chew tobacco? They included? What about people who drink? They next? Oh! What about red meat eaters? Can't have them having heart attacks. Fire em. What about people who don't eat their spinach? Fired or just suspended? Are bikers allowed to work there? What about xtreme sports guys? What about people who dont practice safe sex? Can they work there? My grandfathers both died of cancer. Maybe it's hereditary. Can I get a job there with that kind of baggage?

  Thanks for pissing me off, aaarrrgghhh!
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  harleyquinn

  as a smoker i should be outraged, but it's his company and he gave them fair warning, and he offered to help anyone who wanted to quit....it's reminescent of a company having a no-drug policy...he's looking out for the best interests of his company...
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  undercover

  it's reminescent of a company having a no-drug policy...he's looking out for the best interests of his company...

  Drugs (I assume you mean pot, crack, horse, X) are illegal. No problem with that. But smoking is(at least for now) legal. It may not be in your best interest but if you allow a company to dictate what you can or can't do in that area, how long before they tell you that you can't ride a motorcycle or go skiing or engage in other risky activities? You wanna say you can't smoke at work, on work property, in work vehicles, at any work related activity, fine, no prob. But I'll be goddamned if they tell me what I can and can't do at home legally.
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  xjw_b12

  Me thinks the ACL will have something to say about that. Non-Prescrition Drugs are illegal. Smoking is not.
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  kls

  allows employees to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking happens after business hours or at home.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  MonkeyPrincess

  Im not a smoker, and i dont allow people to smoke around my son.

  But, i think this sounds like they are taking away your freedom to choose.
  If the law cant keep the WTS from their people denying blood transfusion and killing themselves. Then how
  can they allow this man to fire these people for making the choice to continue to smoke, whether they are
  killing themselves or not. Its THEIR choice. Know what i mean. I hope i am explaining it right.
  I think i see a class action law suit coming about.

  MonkeyPrincess
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  MonkeyPrincess

  Double Post
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  Elsewhere

  I'm of the opinion that anything people do on their own time is none of the business of an employer.

  Intruding into a person's personal life would be like an employee demanding the right to directly influence business plans that are normally in the hands of the board of directors.

  Companies will start imposing bans like this but it will just be a matter of time before the employees start to rebel.

  "When they came for Jews, I said nothing, for I am not a Jew. When they came for Catholics, I did nothing, for I am not Catholic. Then they came for me."
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  harleyquinn

  i do see the point of the company's invasion of their employee's personal life....which i am totally against...however, legal or not, cigarettes are not good for you...everyone knows this by now....there are more health risks associated with someone who smokes than with a non-smoker....and healthcare is expensive for small companies...i agree with undercover's comments about extreme sports, alcohol use, and the like...and, again, as a smoker i would throw a fit if my company were to do this....i'm just saying i understand..not that it's 'right' or 'wrong'...just that i understand where the owner of the company is coming from....