Posted on 12/10/2005 1:40:02 PM PST by 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.
Correct, and I will spend my money elsewhere.
PING-DA-DING-DING-DING!!!! (Crazy Frog ping!)
Note to self. Do not buy their products anymore.
"Other than the fact I'm dead...I presume I won't be working for Scotts Miracle-Gro...."
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?
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.
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.
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.
I think equating smoking to "rugged individualism" is a little bit over the top.
Wonder what the effects of their products' runoff are.
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.
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.
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!
They have a contact email on their website. Have fun.
I recently came across an article stating that Scotts 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, Ive relied heavily on the entire line of Miracle Grow products for all my gardening needs.
However, Id rather my lawn turn to dust and for my roses to wilt than support the Draconian measures that your company has taken.
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.
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