daniel1113
Diamond Member
My insurance is already pretty cheap for that very reason. As for your whole CEO bit, that is unimportant. The same could be said for any industry. That's called business.
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2020 john stossel: weyco fire employees for smoking
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My insurance is already pretty cheap for that very reason. As for your whole CEO bit, that is unimportant. The same could be said for any industry. That's called business.
dphantom
Diamond Member
I do not see where health insurance is a right under the constitution. The cmpany is not preventing anyone form pursuing life, liberty or happiness. There just not going to foot the bill for a smokers increased cost.
I would have preferred to see the company make an effort to keep the employees and charge them the increased premuim for being smokers. That way teh non-smokers would not have their premiums raised, but its probable the health insurance company didn;t or wouldn't write a contract that way.
dphantom
Diamond Member
The company is not dictating what the employee does in their off hours. The company is dictating that smokers will not be employed after a set date - 18 months into the futrue. 4 employees did not comply, so those 4 employees made their own choice and the comapny made their choice and decided to terminate.
daniel1113
Diamond Member
It's hard to believe considering the statements made by politicians and citizens alike...
I don't know about that. You can always quit and go someplace else to work, but to be fired for what you do in your own home on your own time seems to me to be getting pretty close to an infringement of your rights. If it wasn't prohibited when you started working there then you should be grandfathered in. Anytime a company tells you what you can and cannot do on your own time is pure BS.
How many people get lung cancer before retirement age anyway?? I think i'll google hat and see what I can find.
dmcowen674
No Lifer
Yep, a typical Republican not affected by any of the crap out there but yet has a lot to say on the crap. The ultimate in Hypocracy.
BrunoPuntzJones
Lifer
So if an employee does crack on the weekends, or drinks heavily after hours, it's none of the owner's business? I think the guy has the right to do whatever he wants in his own home, but the owner has the right to get rid of someone that's going to be a problem.
And insurance companies charge more for smokers, but not for extreme sports people. So not a great comparison. Now if they start charging more for extreme sports folks, then the company can require folks to quit doing them. Of course you'll get to a point where you ban everything and no one will buy the product...
Our local police department is tobacco free. No smoking/chew/etc.
If you will read the thread, we were talking about things that don't affect the employee's preformance. I realy think you people are going to extremes by saying no one will buy the product. Are you seriously trying to tell me that people will do without health insurance?? Hell, the prices are already outrageous and nobody I know of is dropping their insurance. They just want excuses to pass the costs on to someone else. I guess it's OK with you to charge smokers more, but not people who vouluntarily participate in other dangerous actiivities.
BrunoPuntzJones
Lifer
None of that relates to smokers though. Includes everyone.
Been around longer = greater risk of cancer
BrunoPuntzJones
Lifer
I'm just saying it's fine to penalize the smokers because the insurance companies penalize the owner by charging him more. The owner shouldn't have to absorb the cost of a choice the employee makes if it's avoidable.
dphantom
Diamond Member
It's not just cancer. Smokers have a signifiant increase in other health related problems. That is what is costing more. The terminal phase of smoking is a higher chance of lung or other cancer or heart disease. But in the meantime, the cost of the smoking employee with all the other health problems will far exceed those of non-smokers.
A healthy workforce costs much less. If the company can save money on health care, then perhaps fewer jobs will go overseas where working conditions can be abysmal and health care has never been heard of.
Those jobs are going overseas anyway. We just can't compete with people who make $10/day no matter what we do. The ironic part is that we will still pay the same for those services and after giving all the top brass big raises the corporations will just pocket the difference.
I smoke (obviously) but I never smoke more then 10 ciggys a day (I can't quite get a pack to last 3 days) and never smoke in my house, my vehicle, or any other enclosed space for that matter. I have friend who smoke a cigar after supper and that's all they ever smoke. My neighbor comes over 3 times a week, brings over a carafe of coffee made from freshly ground coffe beans and bums a smoke off me. I have some friends who only smoke when they're drinking. These people would've been fired if they worked for Weyco. Not every smoker is smoking 2 packs a day.
I was a machinist for over 20 years. The shop I worked at had about 20 machinists and 200 welders. You want to talk about smoke!! In the winter they closed the doors and everyone got sick with lung infections, strep throat, etc. by spring. I guess they figured it was cheaper to have the employees breathe that crap then clean the air up. Of course, they have a no smoking policy (during working hours). LMAO When OSHA would come to inspect the place they would open all the doors and roof vents to clear the smoke out then shut everything up after the inspector left.
I wonder what the health risks are for coffee drinkers? I'll bet they're next in line.
daniel1113
Diamond Member
I pay $89/month from my paycheck to cover health insurance through my employeer. So, about $1,000 each year for Cigna coverage.
Really? Perhaps you missed this part:
Hensel Phelps Construction Company Data Processing Dept. (1999-Current)
dphantom
Diamond Member
Those jobs are going overseas anyway. We just can't compete with people who make $10/day no matter what we do. The ironic part is that we will still pay the same for those services and after giving all the top brass big raises the corporations will just pocket the difference.
I smoke (obviously) but I never smoke more then 10 ciggys a day (I can't quite get a pack to last 3 days) and never smoke in my house, my vehicle, or any other enclosed space for that matter. I have friend who smoke a cigar after supper and that's all they ever smoke. My neighbor comes over 3 times a week, brings over a carafe of coffee made from freshly ground coffe beans and bums a smoke off me. I have some friends who only smoke when they're drinking. These people would've been fired if they worked for Weyco. Not every smoker is smoking 2 packs a day.
I was a machinist for over 20 years. The shop I worked at had about 20 machinists and 200 welders. You want to talk about smoke!! In the winter they closed the doors and everyone got sick with lung infections, strep throat, etc. by spring. I guess they figured it was cheaper to have the employees breathe that crap then clean the air up. Of course, they have a no smoking policy (during working hours). LMAO When OSHA would come to inspect the place they would open all the doors and roof vents to clear the smoke out then shut everything up after the inspector left.
I wonder what the health risks are for coffee drinkers? I'll bet they're next in line.[/quote]
No, I think "fat" people are next in line. :thumbsdown:
I do sympathize. I've been a smoker (2+ packs), Ive been one of those corporate CEO's (very small company struggling with costs) and I am now an employee who benefits from a very good health care plan at very low cost. At teh same time, being in a position of signifiant responsibility, I see directly how the rapidly rising cost of health is forcing management to make tough choices on hiring, pay raises and other benefits and investment in the organization.
Jobs will continue to go overseas, but if we can at least reduce one of the reasons for such a move, then I think it would benefit many more people than the few wuho are affected by a Weyco type situation.
And your point on a welding shop is well taken. Look at coal miners before strict safety rules were applied.
You graduated high school in 2003 and will graduate college in 2007 right? College students are covered by their fathers/mothers insurance until age 24. So tell me another one. I'm supposed to believe you are full time employed with Hensel Phelps, are an RA, and work as a computer tech at the university and go to school full time??
My daughter went to grad school and after she turned 24 she had no insurance thru me, but the university offered a very basic insurance for a very reasonable fee. It didn't cover much, but it was enough for a young person.
daniel1113
Diamond Member
I'm not a full-time employee. I've told you more than enough. I don't need to describe the reasonings for my health insurance choices.
😀 I think they're are too many fat people and coffee drinkers around that employers won't even try that. They would lose half their employees if they fired overwight people. Especially the goverment workers. They can pick on smokers because they are a minority. Are they going to fire fat people now? Heh, the majority of the judges I know are fat 😉
The rapidly rising cost of health care is the reason we are having this discussion. Is that the fault of smokers? Come on, the hospitals charge too much. The docotors and nurses make too much. The insurance companies make too much. $500/day and up for a room in the hospital? $1500 for a MRI? $100 to see a doctor for 5 minutes? $40 million a year for CEO's? Those are the reasons why the costs are out of line. That is where real saving could be obtained, but how do we do that?? It's a bit of a sticky wicket, isn't it.
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