I've been look for the 29 states that have what's called "Lifestyle Rights Laws" which protect against discriminating against smokers.
"I've been look for the 29 states that have what's called "Lifestyle Rights Laws" which protect against discriminating against smokers"
Thanks! You can always count on Freepers.
If we get lots of good ideas going, maybe we can forward the thread to one of the employees. Perhaps some attorney would take on their case pro bono?
Below are two articles showing examples of the growing trend by
employers refusing to hire smokers. Hopefully, from these clear
cases of discrimination, the states not already protected will prompt
state legislatures to adopt "lifestyle" (smokers rights) statutes
too.
First, employer discrimination against smokers in Michigan is causing
anger among employment lawyers.
"To have an employer monitor legal behavior is going over a line that
we just can't cross. It's going toward that Big Brother mentality
that we just need to stay away from," asserted Joni Thome, an
employment attorney at Halunen & Associates in Minneapolis who hopes
the recent Michigan policy prompts state legislatures to adopt
lifestyle statutes.
Michigan is one of 21 states that do not have such laws. Others
include California, Florida, Ohio and Texas.
The 29 states that do have smokers' rights statutes, also known
as "lifestyle rights laws," which prohibit employers from
discriminating against smokers are Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico,
Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.
# # #
Also, in Florida the police departments in Bayonet Point, Dade City,
Port Richey, Zephyrhills, Brandon, Plant City, Tampa and Ybor City
will no longer hire smokers.
"Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee and Pasco County Sheriff Bob
White won't hire people who are smokers, cigar users or tobacco
chewers, even if they only indulge when off-duty. Sworn deputies
already on the force will be encouraged to toss their Marlboros and
Camels whenever on duty and in public."