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.
Must have been a typo, Zer0 is with us.
"She said, "Yes, just not fast enough."
Now that I am gonna use! Probably on a daily basis!
My problem isn't with mountain biking per se, it really stems from the bicyclists in and around where I used to live..heavily congested all of the time, no lanes or room for bicycles and way too many weekend enthusiasts exercizing their god-given right to screw up traffic. That coupled with some of the funny pants and helmets they are wearing only makes it worse...
I can see by your recount of what you have that you are as avid a cyclist as I am for gunsmithing, so I hate to have spoken so badly about it. It still doesn't change the way I feel about people who intentionally put themselves into dangerous traffic situations that may not cause them harm, but for others for the sake of a weekend indulgence..
"I just can't believe that we have fellow FReepers that are against our rights just because we buy and use a legal product. These are some of the nastiest people on the face of the earth, and they have infiltrated Free Republic."
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Dear She Lion, where do you come down on the issue of banning contaminants (e.g., smoke stuck to people's clothes) from pediatric asthma units? if these contaminants actually trigger asthmatic episodes, are you in favor of banning them? or would that be another example of nasty idiots stopping smokers from using a legal product?
I have you added. Is Toby his Freeper name?
Thank you!!!
Apples and oranges. And stop putting me in with kids. My days of raising my child are over. Today, I have nothing to do with kids!
Except for my grand baby when he comes home. But that is another story.
Wonderful! I added him. If he wants off, he can let me know.
Thanks again!
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