Posted on 05/25/2006 6:03:57 AM PDT by SheLion
ST. CLOUD -- What seemed to many like a good idea several years ago has gone up in smoke. St. Cloud's ban on hiring employees who use tobacco, which was enacted in 2002, has been revoked by the City Council.
"Number one, it never did do what it was supposed to do -- help on insurance," City Manager Tom Hurt said. "And it put a cramp on hiring."
With more jobs to fill as the city grows, there was a shrinking pool of workers to fill the jobs. Osceola's unemployment rate for the 12 months ending in April was 2.6 percent, substantially lower than the national average of 4.5 percent.
"We had certified operators that wanted to work for us, and then they found out they had to be a nonsmoker for a year," said Robert MacKichan, public works director. His department employs about 100 workers and has 12 to 15 vacancies, he said.
At one point, the city loosened its policy by agreeing to hire smokers if they promised to stop.
"No one wants to take a job on the pretense they will be able to stop, not knowing if they will. In a year, if they're not smoke-free, they're [fired]," MacKichan, said
St. Cloud, which took the action about two weeks ago, is not the only city in Florida that has changed its policy on tobacco.
In 1990 North Miami became the first city in the country to enact the tobacco-user hiring ban, but it rescinded the policy in 2003.
"At that time, we were having a terrible time recruiting police officers," said Sue Luglio, assistant director of personnel. "We thought that might be a little edge we could get."
Like St. Cloud, North Miami did not notice any insurance savings with the smoking policy.
Sanford still has a no-tobacco hiring policy for police officers, said Sheryl Chapman, the city's director of human resources. She added that it has not affected applications, and the police force has been expanding.
But the policy hurt St. Cloud's ability to attract qualified workers, officials said.
"We were losing qualified people," said Lt. Vinny Shepard of the St. Cloud Police Department. "We still have the no-smoking policy in city vehicles and on the [department] premises."
Still in effect throughout St. Cloud is the ban on smoking in publicly owned parks, recreation areas and youth athletic fields in a city where youth activity is omnipresent.
This restriction was imposed in 2004 after parents complained about smokers being around their children in the bleachers at athletic fields. St. Cloud at the time joined a trend being followed in places such as Port Orange, Brevard County and the Southern California cities of Laguna Beach and Newport Beach.
Tobacco ban saved no money, made it hard to fill spots.
Oh, I think you're right.
This BS has gone way past ridiculous.
Thanks for the ping!
St. Cloud was the first city to outlaw immoral bumper stickers, lost a huge battle with the ACLU over the 3 crosses on their water tower, and when the Big Bass Tournament comes to town, street signs always lose the "B" in Bass.
All in all, nice town. :-)
My ex-husband is a piece of crap garbage, but he's a non-smoker."
Smokers should refuse to work for these jerks unless they fully rescind the policy and issue a public apology. They declared war, and this is no ceasefire.
One can only hope that the residence smokers already have good jobs. This not hiring of smokers has been in place several years, so I only hope that the smokers have good jobs today, and then they WON'T go to work for the idiots that banned hiring smokers in the first place!
Too busy gnashing their teeth, I guess.
Wonder where all our antis are on this thread?
I'm guessin' there's not a junk science study to explain away all this discrimination.
What a bunch of losers they are.
Too busy gnashing their teeth, I guess.
Wonder where all our antis are on this thread?
I'm guessin' there's not a junk science study to explain away all this discrimination.
What a bunch of losers they are.
I noticed that too. Any time a GOOD thread is posted for smokers and a win for "our" side, the FR anti-losers never show up. LOL
I'm glad I am not the only one to notice the wonderful peace and quiet on this thread. hehe!
"Any time a GOOD thread is posted for smokers and a win for "our" side, the FR anti-losers never show up"
I've noticed that too.
It's too hard for them to explain out-right discrimination.
What kind of lie could be used to sweep all these satements listed below under the rug?
This thread needs to be re-posted every so often. It debunks so many of their lies, and this is the city admitting this stuff!
"Tobacco ban saved no money, made it hard to fill spots."
"Like St. Cloud, North Miami did not notice any insurance savings with the smoking policy."
"Number one, it never did do what it was supposed to do -- help on insurance," City Manager Tom Hurt said. "And it put a cramp on hiring."
The CITY MANAGER admits these policies are worthless.....
Our good little buddies will probably steer clear away from this nightmare of a thread.
Everyone should read this article.
I think it shows just how far out of hand things have gotten, regarding all this tobacco non-sense.
Assuming "premises" means in the buildings, I see no problem with these restrictions. Not hiring smokers for insurance savings is absolutely looney - especially for a police department, where a cough is not the major worry on a day-to-day basis.
Mornin', SheLion!
Undocumented smoking is OK
LOLOLOL
Well, a police department 'is' government owned. I see no problem with no smoking there. Although I wish they would provide a lounge for smokers instead of sending them outside. If that is indeed what they do. I don't know, personally.
Mornin', SheLion!
Hi there. How are ya?? :)
???
Is this in Florida? At least they have better weather than the northeast for the outdoor puff sessions.
Instead, they get shot, wounded on the job, etc.
There never was a hope of this insane policy reducing their insurance rates.
As an aside, Muslims smoke like chimneys, and only abstain from alchohol while in their Holy Land - Saudi Arabia. The rest of the time, they drink like Catholics.
Well, they stopped hiring smokers a few years ago, but have decided to lift that ban, because they can't get anyone to hire now. hehe!
Oh! Ok. As you can tell, I know very little about their habits and rituals. :)
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