Sheriff Won't Hire Smokers

San Mateo Daily Journal ^ | March 1, 2004 | Dana Yates

[at bay]

Rising worker’s compensation and health care cost is prompting San Mateo County Sheriff Don Horsley to put a ban on hiring smokers.

“If your lifestyle contributes to a disability, I’m sorry about that. But I don’t think the taxpayers should pay.” said Horsley.

Since smoking is known to cause numerous health problems, Horsley said the decision to not hire smokers is an economical move that could save the county a lot of money in workers’ compensation costs each year.

The idea came to him after the Sheriff’s Department had to settle a $90,000 workers’ compensation claim with a retired employee. The retiree developed lung cancer…..

[annyokie]

Sure. I buy them at the smoke shop.

[AnHoa1967]

Many companies, mine included, won't hire smokers. So we just check the "Don't Smoke" box, and be sure not to get caught. Seems to work quite well. If seen by someone and reported to be a smoker, we just deny it. Companies are afraid of lawsuits, and they run away if they don't have solid evidence that would hold up in court. Smoke away!

[Cultural Jihad]

It still begs the question, why are smokers the only ones discriminated against.

Are they? I would assume people with obesity, and heroin addiction, and those with severe physical or emotional deformities are, too.

[Cultural Jihad]

... based upon their use of legal products while not on company time.

Alas, if only the effects of smoking where to be gone the very next day when one has to do a foot chase for seven blocks to subdue a felon.

[realpatriot71]

I've always found it cute that some of the same folks who rage on about "illegal" drugs from one side of their mouth light up a cigarette on the opposite side. Everybody loves their personal vices and seem to become quite disgruntled when shown that their attitudes are no different from the "pot heads". The wages of police officers are paid in one shape or form by me and you - tax payers. Furthermore, if you want me to pay for your medical expenses, then stop smoking.

I'd hire cops that smoke as long as they signed a waiver from their health benefits. Want to smoke - pay your own healthcare.

[swarthyguy]

Go do something impossible.

Don't like opposing POV's do you.

What's this have to do with kids.

What a silly attitude. Everything is for the kids?

It's little control freaks that want to make the world risk free.

What a shame! That old American Spirit really lives doesn't it.

[Gabz]

Gee, when I was growing up most of the cops I knew were smokers, including my dad, and they never seemed to have any problem doing their jobs. In fact many of the guys I grew up with who became cops are still smokers and always performed their jobs with out problem.

I've got no idea what they've put in the water to make such wimps out of people.

My 8 month old lab got loose the other night and I spent better than 45 minutes chasing her over more than 2 acres of ground and wasn't even winded when she finally decided she had enough of the game. I'm in my 40s and have smoked for more than 20 years.

[Mears]

Gabz,if you do your ping list from memory I wish my memory was 1/2 as good as yours.

You and She have been lifesavers for me.

[swarthyguy]

It's pissant little know it all schmucks like you, full of preening arrogance, smug, superior and condescending to others, who worship at the altar of the state to coerce people into your silly universe.

Statist Authoritarians who'd be right at home in and licking the boots and kissing arse of dictators.

Makes you feel real superior, eh, to the rest of us?

[Gabz]

Earth to realpatriot71 - smokers of tobacco are also taxpayers.

I find it "cute" that everyone raging about cigarette smokers love to talk about how they, the taxpayers, are paying for smokers health care yet fail to acknowledge the smokers are also taxpayers and by continuing to smoke actually are paying more taxes than the non-smokers. And those additional taxes actually include a tax specifically aimed at paying for health coverage for all the so-called health costs of smokers inflicted upon the states, the faact that most states are using that extra money to balance budgets and fund things not related to smoking is not the fault of the smokers, rather it is the fault of the non-smokers who are not holding their elected officials accountable.

[Mears]

How would they know if a police officer smokes off duty? Spies,that's how.

A police officer from Fall River,Ma was fired last year based on an anonymous tip.He smoked at a party while off duty and someone reported him.

The astonishing thing to me is that if he had got drunk at the party it would have been okay,since he wasn't on the job.

Go figure!!!!!

[Gabz]

Thank you, my FRiend.

I really do need to ask SheLion to send me her current ping list, I haven't updated mine in so long........

Over the course of the past few months I have been having a major problem with short term memory loss due to an insidious mold that keeps finding it's way inside the house. I thought we had it totally eradicated but over the course of the past week I've been noticing the symptoms again....memory loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, major mood swings. Bleach and Clorox Clean-up are my current best friends.

Something strange that I have noticed, is that the worst mold infestations that I found have all been in rooms of the house where no one smoked..........the bedrooms and the bathroom. We ran into a problem with the type of grout we used on the new tile floor we put in the bathroom and my husband has been spending a few hours working in there nearly every friday for the past month or so and has kept an ashtray in there because he will occassionally have a cigarette while working -- there has been absolutely no mold in there since.

[swarthyguy]

I aint here to be a stinking example.

Let the sports stars, media mavens and celebrities of music and hollywood do that.

None of them smoke. Kobe, OJ, Janet, Jacko.

They must all be paragons of humanity.

Whine whine whine.

[Gabz]

And such fine upstanding examples of values that crew is..........

[Mears]

Mold is tough,I hope you beat it down and feel better soon.

The cigarette smoking thing fascinates me.Have you tried smoking in one of the bedrooms with the door closed and see if it helps the mold problem?

When the antis see your post they will howl with delight,of course,saying"Even mold finds cigarette smoking disgusting!" and on and on and on.

[realpatriot71]

This is more than just "taxes" - its asking me and other non-smokers to help support the nasty selfish habit of a few. Smoking is a completely irresponsible vice, and I won't support the "aftermath" of a stupid decision making processes through my tax dollars. Talk about Tyranny! When you're on the tax-payer paid list, lose your habit or support your own healthcare. Why do you think smokers have such a hard time getting insured? Smoking can be shown harmful in so many different ways, so those who want to smoke know what they're doing, and know the possible future complications of stupid behavior. If a person knows this and wants to still smoke - go ahead - I'm not trying to stop you, but quit trying to make me pay for bad thinking.

[Luis Gonzalez]

BUMP

[Mears]

My middle aged sons and daughters,and their spouses,all non-smokers, would take umbrage with your arrogant,self satisfied attitude,implying that I have set a bad example with my smoking.

A little more living and experience will teach you a lot,young one.

[swarthyguy]

Don't you know that out of the ills and evils in this earthly vale, the Devil's Weed, tabak, is at the root of it all.

When smokers are extinct, cures of AIDS and cancers will promptly be discovered, and peace, love, harmony and justice for all will prevail.


Too bad Osama didn't have the smarts to declare a jihad on SHS.

He'd be Grand Mufti of America by now.

[Gabz]

When the antis see your post they will howl with delight,of course,saying"Even mold finds cigarette smoking disgusting!" and on and on and on.

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! But you are, of course, correct.

I have not tried your suggestion about smoking in the bedroom and probably won't. Other than sneaking a smoke when I was a kid the only times I have ever really smoked in my bedroom was when I lived in a one room apartment or if I'm in a hotel.

My ex-husband truly spooked me out about smoking in the bedroom and I've been divorced from him more than 15 years. More times than not he would fall asleep with a lit cigarette because he was drunk and had passed out. I learned back then to practically sleep with one eye open because he would wake up in the middle of the night to have one..........I generally wound up getting up to put it out because he would pass out again with it still lit.