Are smokers tired of being controlled yet? Over a legal product????
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.
Are smokers tired of being controlled yet? Over a legal product????
What is the position of the hospital with respect to AIDS? Can a doctor or nurse have HIV and still be employed?
Once they manage to force smokers to quit by way of taxation they'll simply turn their attention to something else.
Try requiring workers to be HIV free and watch how fast your ass gets sued.
Fascist alert! Michiganistan moves up on my list of states to avoid. Just behind Mass. and California now, unfortunately I have to go to Boston on business often.
The legacy of decades of Democrat corruption and organized crime control of government in the 'common-wealth' (what a HUGE LIE that term is) of Massholia is awe inspiring. I imagine it's like visiting a Soviet republic at the hight of the Cold War.
No kidding.
I hope it's all of the bicycles (the real expensive enthusiast ones). Add to that the cute little tight spandex pants and "Aliens" helmets all of these 'he-men' seem to want to wear when they "commune with nature" (actually, most times in the height of morning or afternoon traffic, it seems).
Everybody must be controlled!!
"Everyday our staff tell patients who use tobacco to quit who are overweight to begin a diet and exercise program," said Bill Rietscha, Vice President of Facilities for Spectrum Health. "We can't say that with credibility while smelling of tobacco ourselves when our health care workers are waddling blobs of cellulite."
Fascist alert!
Here's another existential threat to worry about while obsessing about health.
Over my dead body.
There were negotiations? I didn't think so.
Sure, it's not pure Fascism but I'm not sure it's not something worse. You may think you are exempt because you don't smoke but all an organization has to do is determine there is a behavior you DO partaticipate in that they don't like and you are out on your butt, too.
Because someone has the right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. That runs both ways.
There's nothing wrong with Michigan...just stay out of the blue counties. Mainly Wayne, Washtenaw and now, whatever county Grand Rapids is in.
In the case of the Western side of Michigan: The morons have been moving up from Chicago and bringing their Liberal nonsense with them.
Smokefree Michigan uber alles.
Thank you! But I guess you can't "smell" aids, so it isn't an issue. ~/s
Heh! They also skrooed the non smokers with this.
They'll have to work longer shifts to accomodate the lack of personnel.
This is really ridiculous. What adult today needs more parental supervision? Smoking isn't good for us, but it's legal. These control freaks don't like the smell so they are forbidding their employees from smoking? Trying to help them quit my butt!
When a smoker goes into a hospital in Maine, they are slapped with the PATCH! Whether the smoker wants it or not!
Unlike Weyco and Scott's at least it is only during their shifts...........they are not being threatedned with being fired for what they do outside of work.
Additionally these are private employers, it is not the government doing it, so while I don't like such a policy, I have to respect their right to make the rules of employee conduct during working hours.
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