Smokers do not apply

TechAZ

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2007
1,188
0
71
I came across this today, and I was surprised. What's next, having employees hopping on a scale and taking a BMI?

Thoughts?



Tobacco-Free Hiring Policy

Beginning April 10, 2011, as part of its commitment to the health and well-being of our workforce and community, Scottsdale Healthcare will no longer hire or re-hire individuals who use tobacco.

On the online employment application form, all applicants will be asked if they use tobacco. All individuals who are offered a position with Scottsdale Healthcare are screened for tobacco use as part of the post-offer health assessment and screening.

Individuals whose screening results are verified positive for tobacco use will have their job offers withdrawn. Individuals whose job offers are withdrawn for tobacco use may reapply for employment after 180 days.

http://www.shc.org/pm
 

Fern

Elite Member
Sep 30, 2003
26,907
174
106
Meh. I don't support this type of thing because they're regulating what you do after hours. Is it bad for health and therefor might possibly drive HI costs? Yes, but so is a whole pile of other stuff too (driving fast, eating too much, or eating bad food, playing sports, drinking, risky sex etc).

OTOH, as long as it's a private company they can do want they want IMO.

Fern
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Good rule. Smokers waste a lot of time, well, smoking throughout the day. Not to mention if they don't even care about their bodies how can they care about your bottom line?
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
Not to mention if they don't even care about their bodies how can they care about your bottom line?

And drinkers? And people who have high intake of fat? People who engage is risky social activities/hobbies?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Good rule. Smokers waste a lot of time, well, smoking throughout the day. Not to mention if they don't even care about their bodies how can they care about your bottom line?

Same with coffee drinkers. We need to ban them. Any employee will be tested for cafeine use.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Same with coffee drinkers. We need to ban them. Any employee will be tested for cafeine use.

Coffee is actually good for you, been proven. I never drink it tho I'm amped all the time. Feels like my HR rises too much when I've tried it.
 

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
0
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Forget Hitler and Stalin, corporations will rule the world. I'm not sure which I would prefer.
 

Thump553

Lifer
Jun 2, 2000
12,839
2,625
136
Smoking drives up health care costs paid by the employer enormously. Surely you free enterprise people aren't going to claim that this employer is not entitled to reduce its costs by not hiring people whose voluntary behavior will cost the employer more, cuts productivity, give no benefit to the employer and in addition endanger the lives of other employees?
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Smoking drives up health care costs paid by the employer enormously. Surely you free enterprise people aren't going to claim that this employer is not entitled to reduce its costs by not hiring people whose voluntary behavior will cost the employer more, cuts productivity, give no benefit to the employer and in addition endanger the lives of other employees?

That's not the only costs. If you have a smoker in you office just sit there all day and observe and time them and their frequent breaks. I've done it. 1 hour wasted coming out of your pocket every day.
 

mchammer187

Diamond Member
Nov 26, 2000
9,114
0
76
Good. An employer focusing on lowering healthcare costs. No government intervention necessary.
 

Schadenfroh

Elite Member
Mar 8, 2003
38,416
4
0
Cool, just make sure you are consistent and do not hire people that use illegal drugs, drink alcohol, eat unhealthy foods or do not exercise.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,391
5,004
136
That's not the only costs. If you have a smoker in you office just sit there all day and observe and time them and their frequent breaks. I've done it. 1 hour wasted coming out of your pocket every day.

What about the worker who doesn't do anything but monitor the smokers all day? That's real productive huh.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,391
5,004
136
That worker only costs you one day. A smoker costs you one day every 8.

Sorry. I gotta throw a BS flag on this. If a worker is not being productive, taking too long at breaks etc, you have a management problem and not a smoker problem.

I have seen lots of lazy ass non-smokers that take long breaks etc every day also.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
Smoking drives up health care costs paid by the employer enormously. Surely you free enterprise people aren't going to claim that this employer is not entitled to reduce its costs by not hiring people whose voluntary behavior will cost the employer more, cuts productivity, give no benefit to the employer and in addition endanger the lives of other employees?

Never said they can't. Slippery slope. Once you use that reasoning it opens up all kinds of shit reasonsble people disagree with.
 

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
0
0
The last dictatorships in America are the workplace and at home w my wife. Deal with it.


Sorry, not my job or even hobby to deal with dictators. You'll have to deal with your own job and wife.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Cool, just make sure you are consistent and do not hire people that use illegal drugs, drink alcohol, eat unhealthy foods or do not exercise.

All excellent advice if you're hunting for a good employee.
 

wuliheron

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2011
3,536
0
0
You can computerize the whole system. No doubt we could eventually computerize the government as well and corporations could even set the standards using computers. Won't that be fun.
 

Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
17,844
1
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Meh, smoking and being overweight is a sign of poor judgment. It's something you have a choice over.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
Sorry. I gotta throw a BS flag on this. If a worker is not being productive, taking too long at breaks etc, you have a management problem and not a smoker problem.

I have seen lots of lazy ass non-smokers that take long breaks etc every day also.

People love working for me because I don't make it so I have to manage. That's management skills.