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Company Fires Smokers
The Associated Press. ^
| The Associated Press.
Posted on 01/24/2005 6:01:07 PM PST by Eurotwit
Michigan Firm Won't Allow Smoking, Even On Employee's Own Time
LANSING, Mich. -- A Michigan health care company has fired four of its employees for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes.
The company enacted a new policy this month, allowing workers to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking takes place after-hours, or at home.
The founder of Weyco Inc. said the company doesn't want to pay the higher health care costs associated with smoking.
An official of the company -- which administers health benefits -- estimated that 18 to 20 of its 200 employees were smokers when the policy was first announced in 2003. As many as 14 of them quit smoking before the policy went into effect.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: 2ndhandsmoke; americanlungassocn; by10yearsormore; chaw; chew; cig; cigar; cigarette; cigarettes; cigs; copd; cough; coughcoughcough; emphysema; employmentatwill; freedomofcontract; hack; hackhackhack; health; lungdisease; pipe; pufflist; quitsmoking; reducelifespan; smoke; smokeout; smokerscough; smokes; smoking; snuff; sputum; sputumanalysis; tobacco; withoutresponsibilty; workplace
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1
posted on
01/24/2005 6:01:08 PM PST
by
Eurotwit
To: SheLion
2
posted on
01/24/2005 6:01:45 PM PST
by
Eurotwit
To: Eurotwit
3
posted on
01/24/2005 6:02:55 PM PST
by
ASA Vet
(Those who know, don't talk. Those who talk, don't know.)
To: Eurotwit
Cool. I'm going to get my overweight boss fired.
4
posted on
01/24/2005 6:03:57 PM PST
by
ibbryn
(this tag intentionally left blank)
To: ASA Vet
5
posted on
01/24/2005 6:05:02 PM PST
by
Eurotwit
To: Eurotwit
6
posted on
01/24/2005 6:05:15 PM PST
by
armyman
(This space available for advertising. Freepmail me for pricing, terms, and conditions.)
To: ibbryn
ROFLMAO!
I'm not a fan of smoking but you raise a good point.
This is draconion and over the top.
Smoking is not against the law.
7
posted on
01/24/2005 6:05:40 PM PST
by
TSgt
(It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.)
To: Eurotwit
un-freaking-believable They must feel immune to litigation. What other undesirable attributes will they cull next? Will a DNA test be required to see the odds one has towards disease?
8
posted on
01/24/2005 6:05:46 PM PST
by
SoDak
(hoist that rag!)
To: Eurotwit
9
posted on
01/24/2005 6:05:47 PM PST
by
exnavychick
(There's too much youth; how about a fountain of smart?)
To: exnavychick
10
posted on
01/24/2005 6:06:35 PM PST
by
TSgt
(It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.)
To: exnavychick
Sorry, didn't know someone else had already pointed it out. My mistake. :)
11
posted on
01/24/2005 6:06:48 PM PST
by
exnavychick
(There's too much youth; how about a fountain of smart?)
To: MikeWUSAF
:P
Takes one to know one! LOL
12
posted on
01/24/2005 6:07:52 PM PST
by
exnavychick
(There's too much youth; how about a fountain of smart?)
To: exnavychick
Darn, and I was getting ready to post an already been posted to your already been posted post.
13
posted on
01/24/2005 6:09:56 PM PST
by
ASA Vet
(Those who know, don't talk. Those who talk, don't know.)
To: Eurotwit
Guess they should fire the overweight, anyone with a family history of cancer, the gays, people of color, anyone that drinks alcohol, motorcycle riders, singles, males. We all know these groups have more medical problems than white married heterosexual women.
14
posted on
01/24/2005 6:09:57 PM PST
by
ORECON
(Condi Rice/Ann Coulter - 2008)
To: Eurotwit
A Michigan health care company has fired four of its employees for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes. Holy Moly!!!!
15
posted on
01/24/2005 6:11:59 PM PST
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: ORECON
White hetero women have to go too. They give birth.
16
posted on
01/24/2005 6:14:10 PM PST
by
SoDak
(hoist that rag!)
To: Eurotwit
Is this company looking for a discrimination lawsuit?
17
posted on
01/24/2005 6:14:16 PM PST
by
rllngrk33
(The Legacy Media is the propaganda wing of the Democratic Party.)
To: SoDak
Motorcycle riders, rock climbers, and other deviant types need to beware! The health police will get us all.
I wonder what would happen if those employees agreed to forgo company funded health insurance, choosing instead to acquire private insurance? As a contractor, then later self-employed worker, I've carried my own health insurance for about 8 years now, and, at least in Texas, it's not a problem and not prohibitively expensive.
18
posted on
01/24/2005 6:15:57 PM PST
by
walden
To: ASA Vet
19
posted on
01/24/2005 6:19:50 PM PST
by
exnavychick
(There's too much youth; how about a fountain of smart?)
To: walden
I'll bet it wouldn't matter if you self-insured. A policy this draconian isn't likely about money and is instead being driven by an individual who has some ardent beliefs he wishes to foist on to everyone he possibly can. I.E. Likely the founder. Someday, people will look back on the smoking debate and wonder why the h*ll they didn't draw a line in the sand there. I'd like to see the company sued, but in this climate, I'm almost positive the company would win.
20
posted on
01/24/2005 6:20:21 PM PST
by
SoDak
(hoist that rag!)
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