Company demands workers give up smoking to keep jobs

AP ^ | 12/10/5

[Crackingham]

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., looking for ways to hold down health insurance costs, will require workers who smoke to quit by October or lose their jobs. The lawn and garden company wants workers to live healthy lifestyles, said James Hagedorn, the company's chairman and chief executive. Scotts recently opened a $5 million fitness and medical facility. Scotts is joining other companies focusing on smokers to cut health insurance costs. Some companies make employees who smoke pay higher health insurance premiums, or don't hire them.

"Why would we admit someone into this environment when they're passing risk along to everyone else? Our view is we shouldn't and we won't," Hagedorn said.

Scotts, which made $100 million on sales of $2.3 billion in its last fiscal year, has 6,000 employees in the United States and overseas. It said it can fire smokers legally in 21 states.

"We're being as aggressive as the law will allow us, to keep our costs under control," Hagedorn said.

Scotts pays for 75 percent of employees' health insurance but won't say how much that runs. The company also will require higher premiums for workers who refuse to take a health survey in 2006. In 2007, premiums will rise for workers who don't follow doctor recommendations to improve their health.

In a 2004 survey of 270 professionals, the Society for Human Resource Management found 4.4 percent preferred to not hire smokers. Fewer than 1 percent said their companies have a formal policy against hiring smokers.

This year, Okemos, Mich.-based Weyco Inc. began firing workers who smoke.

Scotts, based in this town 30 miles northwest of Columbus, is offering free counseling, nicotine patches and classes on quitting to workers who smoke. The company hasn't figure out how it will determine whether employees are in compliance, spokesman Jim King said.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Correct, and I will spend my money elsewhere.

[paulat]

Couldn't agree more and I'm in the health care field. Compared to the general population I've got it good in terms of cost of coverage, but I can only use network MD's and services. When I travel I'm up the creek if I need medical care -- I'll have to pay 50% of the cost which can be substantial if I were involved in a car wreck, had a heart attack, etc. It would make much more sense to say "we're going to give you $X per month for health care -- go find the plan that suits your needs." The employer would be freed up from the annual shopping and negotiating with insurance companies, and the consumer could buy a plan that fits their situation. Competition for the business would regulate the marketplace.

PING-DA-DING-DING-DING!!!! (Crazy Frog ping!)

[H. Paul Pressler IV]

It is perfectly legal unless you want to make the argument that smoking is a disability and protected by the ADA.

[TXBSAFH]

Note to self. Do not buy their products anymore.

[MediaAnalyst]

What the MSM fails to mention here is that this company's pension obligations will go through the roof, along with their retiree health care costs (assuming that they still have pensions and retiree health care), if they pull this off. The dirty little secret that the MSM never bothers to mention in these type of articles is that smokers tend to die young and quickly (relative to non-smokers), and this is about the only thing that has kept Social Security, Medicare, and just about every retirement plan from already being bankrupt.

[paulat]

"Other than the fact I'm dead...I presume I won't be working for Scotts Miracle-Gro...."

[TheSpottedOwl]

Well okay, but the company makes the argument that smokers run up health care costs disaportionately to non smokers. Being gay is not a disability, but a protected species. They do however contract expensive to treat diseases and illnesses.

What about non smokers who are at risk for diabetes or hypertension? Fired because of genetic heredity?

[Prodigal Son]

LOL! I'm a smoker. What this company is doing is none of my business. If I go in a restaurant that has a no-smoking sign, I just don't smoke. It's not a big deal to me and I've been puffing away for 26 years. None of the airlines let you smoke anymore. Doesn't bother me. I think it's pretty comical actually to watch smokers go through withdrawal.

Next year, here in Scotland, they will ban smoking in all the pubs. I don't care one way or the other. Smoking is a filthy habit and at best only 25% of people are doing it. And again, this is coming from a smoker.

[driveserve]

So Comrade McLynnan, you object to the enlightened policies of the State? Perhaps a re-education camp stay of a few years would help you see the truth...

Next, Conservatism will be deemed hateful & unhealthy for your Comrade Workers. You will be fired unless you become a tolerant, diversified liberal. And don't think for a minute that anyone else will hire you. Word gets around.

McCarthyism indeed! Cigar anyone?

[Marie]

I will have to find a new fertilizer now. James Hagedorn is my 1st choice.

Suppose I'll be joining you with that. I was going to writs SMG a nasty letter, but In think I'll write my new fertilizer provider instead.

[BlazingArizona]

The basic problem here is that the health care deduction goes to employers. Change the tax code so it goes to employees instead, and this whole problem would go away.

Deregulate medicine so employees could go out and find their own health coverage, contracting with whoever they wish and shopping for medical services in an open market.

[Prodigal Son]

This runs in the face of the concept of freedom and rugged individualism that made this country great.

I think equating smoking to "rugged individualism" is a little bit over the top.

[fat city]

Wonder what the effects of their products' runoff are.

[elkfersupper]

I think what they're aiming for eventually is that people who DRIVE to work will soon be undesirable.

We'll have to take public transportation or walk, dontchaknow. We will be much more manageable that way

The same bunch is behind all of this crap.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

I am a non smoker but NOT an anti smoker.

I have worked with smokers who tried to quit. They were much better to work with when they smoked!

Smokers do get breaks and non smokers don't. If your a non smoker and you try to take a 'smoke' break you get in trouble.

This has to be a cover for something else.

[JDoutrider]

Note to self. Do not buy their products anymore.

Got that right!

Guess you heard, here in the Peoples Republic of Washington State, now has the most stringent anti smoking laws in America! No smoking anywhere the public is allowed! You actually have to stay 25 feet away from any entrance to any building if you smoke!

I wouldn't be surprised to see some sort of violent response to all this madness!

[TXBSAFH]

They have a contact email on their website. Have fun.

[Marie]

Oh what the heck. I wrote a nasty letter anyway.

I recently came across an article stating that Scott’s Miracle Grow will no longer allow employees to work for their company if they consume tobacco products.

As a private company in the US you have the right to employ whomever you wish. As a consumer who abhors this invasion by your company into the personal lives of your employees, I have the right to find another company to provide for the needs of my 8.66 acre lawn. This is a sad day for me as, over the years, I’ve relied heavily on the entire line of Miracle Grow products for all my gardening needs.

However, I’d rather my lawn turn to dust and for my roses to wilt than support the Draconian measures that your company has taken.

[McLynnan]

LOL, you poke fun, but where will this idiocy end? Meantime I must be vigilant about my cholesterol through the holidays. No eggnog, fudge, or standing rib roast for me. Sheesh, imagine the finger shaking I'd have to endure.

[TXBSAFH]

Scott's has a contact email form on their website. I let them know that until the drop this they can stick their chemical fertilizer up the body orifice that their organic fertilizer come out of. And that I will be switching brands.