U-Haul will no longer hire smokers in many states

CBS NEWS ^ | January 02, 2020 | CBS

[Morgana]

U-Haul has a New Year's resolution: cut down on hiring people who smoke. The moving company said that it won't hire nicotine users in states where it is legal to do so, saying that it wants to ensure a "healthier workforce."

The new policy will start Feb. 1, and won't apply to those hired before then. U-Haul said the initiative is part of its commitment to establishing a healthy corporate culture.

"We are deeply invested in the well-being of our Team Members," said Jessica Lopez, U-Haul Chief of Staff, in a statement. "Nicotine products are addictive and pose a variety of serious health risks. This policy is a responsible step in fostering a culture of wellness at U-Haul, with the goal of helping our Team Members on their health journey."

The policy complements U-Haul's "Healthier You" program, which helps workers quit smoking. The program also offers gym and personal training reimbursements, nutrition plans and more.

[vpintheak]

Reading some responses, and Holy hyperbole, Batman!
FRiends, if a business chooses to do this, it is their right. Insurance companies will give them a discount for doing this. If they are unable to find qualified workers because of this, they will change the policy in some manner.
Meat eaters? Come on. Guess what, many places of business already test for MJ pre-hire, and then also randomly test after that.
Simmer down folks. Either you believe in freedom and free market economy, or you don’t.

[Deplorable American1776]

Tobacco Farmers are being hurt by the Anti-Smoking Bulls_it. Growing up, my friend's family had a tobacco farm. It was a great job for me, under cheesecloth. It was hot, but great for teens.

Wish someone could research the tobacco plant, to help farmers. My friend's farmland is now homes and parkland...

[Openurmind]

No, this is a bad precedent to support. What this says is that your employer still owns you at home even after you clock out. What comes next is the problem, it opens the door to not hire for ANY reason they like. What you do when off the clock not being paid should NEVER be dictated by your employer.

[vpintheak]

Just gonna have to disagree with you. You are free to work where you want, and to live where you want. A business does not own you.
If you just have to use tobacco, then you aint gonna work there, simple as that. Again, if things get so bad that they can’t find workers, their policy will change.

[moovova]

In other news...

“U-haul will no longer rent their equipment to smokers.”

[dfwgator]

It will then be gun owners.

[Openurmind]

This ideology and practice will spread and become a universal across the board requirement to get a job everywhere period. Next it will be Booze, then it will be meat, then it will be to get health insurance, then it will be...

It opens a door against off the clock rights that should not be opened. Before it is over you will have to be an absolute pure Monk to get employment.

[Openurmind]

Yep...

[MayflowerMadam]

“I am so glad my mandatory full time working days are behind me.”

Amen! to that.

[dfwgator]

At our companies, smokers have to pay an additional $100 per month for health insurance, but they can get it waived if they quit and take a smoking cessation course.

That seems a bit more humane, because the company truly attempts to get people to quit, and keep them as employees.

[CodeToad]

Gee, will they rent a truck to a nicotine user??

[Phillyred]

Yep...gun owners as well. But the free market will work it all out for sure../sarcasm

[Phillyred]

But people with more deadly lifestyles...carry on. I’m sick of busybodies. We need a big old freedom pushback asap.

[dfwgator]

What about the freedom of the business owner to choose the employees they want.

[CivilWarBrewing]

What about nonsmokers with a family history of cancer on both sides? I think that needs looking into.. /s

[vpintheak]

No. It won’t. That’s some of that hyperbole I first wrote about. Americans won’t stand for it. At least not in this generation or likely the next. By then, there will probably be A LOT more to worry about than smoking or drinking.

[Svartalfiar]

You all blame everything but the tobacco companies. I have a friend who smokes and she tells me that before the companies added all this crap to make people so addicted that she remembers her grandpa smoking. He would come home at the end of the day and smoke one or two and that was it. It was not a case of “he had to have it” and “being chained to his box of cigaretts”. She told me they’ve done this on purpose and it’s taken the fun out of it and to kill us.

Easy solution. You buy a pipe. It's cheaper, tastes better, looks cooler, waaay more sophisticated/badass, And is just all-around better for you!

[Svartalfiar]

U-Haul has a New Year's resolution: cut down on hiring people who smoke. The moving company said that it won't hire nicotine users in states where it is legal to do so, saying that it wants to ensure a "healthier workforce."

So "nicotine-users", not just smokers. Is this including people who suck on their vape things? What about those who dip or chew? None of those are taking 15min smoke breaks. And vaping is supposedly 'healthy'.

How does the company enforce this? All someone has to do is say 'no' when asked if they smoke. That's my default answer anyway nowadays. If they aren't smoking on company time, how's the company even going to figure out they 'lied'? Are you subject to firing if they discover later that you do smoke? Or, at that point, are you grandfathered in, since now you already work there?