Posted on 09/30/2006 8:41:28 AM PDT by SheLion
GRAND RAPIDS -- Spectrum Health and Saint Mary's Health Care will require all their employees to not use tobacco at any time during their work shift beginning January 1.
The staffs of both hospitals will need to arrive without smelling of smoke, and they can't use any tobacco products until they leave hospital property after their shift.
Metro Health is also joining in the Smoke-Free Work Day Every Day campaign.
In 2003, the Grand Rapids hospitals became the first in the country to jointly declare their hospital campuses smoke-free. Today, more than 30 Michigan hospitals have smoke-free campuses.
This takes it a step further.
The three hospitals are working together to help employees quit the habit between now and the first of the year. The hospitals said the main reason for making this decision was to improve patient care.
"Everyday our staff tell patients who use tobacco to quit," said Bill Rietscha, Vice President of Facilities for Spectrum Health. "We can't say that with credibility while smelling of tobacco ourselves."
Tom Karel, the Vice President of Human Resources for Saint Mary's, echoed that. "We have delivered this message to each person who walks in a door at Saint Mary's, and this is the next step in a long term effort to ensure the health of our employees, patients, visitors and our entire community."
Among the other reasons the hospitals cited were the health risks to their employees and the reduced productivity related to smoking.
Not everyone is thrilled with the plan. Midge Birdsall has worked in health care for more than 30 years. She knows smoking isn't good for her, but she said the decision to quit should be hers and hers alone.
"I'm not doing something illegal so I have a problem with them telling me how to run my lifestyle when it's not affecting my work," she said. "I'm not sure how they can tell me I can't go off campus on my break. I guess I'll find out January 1."
24 Hour News 8 talked with a local labor law attorney who said the hospitals can fire employees who disobey the rules.
It's a growing trend. In January 2005, KVCC banned smoking for all new full-time employees. Lansing-based Weyco, a company that administers health benefits, also went smoke-free. Several employees left who refused to take a test to determine if they're using tobacco.
I hate to say it, but I would do as I please, Smoke before work, go off to lunch and smoke, and come back. No one tells me what to do off the clock.
More smokers need to adopt this attitude.
These people are trying to control every aspect of our lives and because smoking is "bad" now, everyone just runs along with it like sheep.
We were just laughing this morning at the sight of a grey-bearded guy pedaling down the street with an "Alien" helmet on.
If there's a more ridiculous sight in the world, I'm hard-pressed to conjure up what it is.
LOL
So would I.
I had the same hairdresser, who stood real close to me, for 10 years, and he never knew I smoked until I mentioned it one day.
Well, I have a friend whose father was a well-respected surgeon (was sought out Muhammed Ali for surgery because of his reputation) and who smoked Camels all his life.
Didn't affect his performance.
And neither have any of the other smoking employees.
Too many whining smoking Nazis around waiting to run to teacher.
Those people would probably be more productive if they could smoke at their desks.
As to the non-smokers being more productive - that's a laugh - they are the ones gathered round the water coolers and coffee pots.......
I remember seeing a Sharon Stone movie years ago. She was a teacher at a private school (I know, but it was a movie...) and was walking along with an effeminate smoking Nazi fellow teacher who started coughing and waving his arms around when she lit a cigarette.
He screamed, "Don't you know second-hand smoke kills?"
She said, "Yes, just not fast enough."
I didn't realize you had one to turn on or off.
(sorry, just couldn't resist)
You're bad. ;-)
Bite me, Gab. LOL.
he has a keen imagination ;)
You asked for it, buddy!!!
But there is a HUGE difference between the 2 :)
uh oh. back to my homework.
the brain and switch are imaginary friends of his, lol! ;)
Isn't it an axiomatic smoker principle that they can go to a smoking employer? And isn't it also a principle that owners should determine smoking policy?
We all know of course smokers really don't care about property rights, its all about addiction and ability to smoke everywhere anytime. Its pure selfishness and property rights is simply a useful tool.
Has anyone recently told you that you are a horse's rear end? If they haven't, consider yourself told.
If your reading comprehension skills were above the level of my daughter, who is in 3rd grade (but reads at 7th grade level), you would have seen where it is primarily smokers who are defending the right of this private company to make their own decisions.......including she lion and myself.
LOL! I gotta remember that one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.