[xrp]

I'd love to work for an employer who doesn't employ any smokers.

Health care costs for the employer would go down which could result in higher wages for myself and co-workers.

[whereasandsoforth]

"I'd love to work for an employer who doesn't employ any smokers. Health care costs for the employer would go down which could result in higher wages for myself and coworkers."

Well, first off, smoking is not the leader of health care cost to employers. There are many things grownups do that are not great for health. Grownup homosexuals come to mind. And people with bad diet habits. Actually, diet outranks smoking by some margin as a health risk to the general population. Who are we going to fire because their diet doesn't measure up to The Perfect Worker's Party Solution. You maybe?

Secondly, I wouldn't go spending those extra paycheck dollars so fast. The tobacco users in this country contribute a tremendous amount to the tax coffers. Those lost tax dollars are not going to be forgotten by any politician. The shortfall from lack of tax collected from tobacco users will be made up elsewhere. Like directly out of your pocket instead of the smoker's.

And finally, you are an optimist to assume that any monetary benefit an employer may realize because his health insurance costs go down will be transfered to you. May be he feels like he deserves a raise too.

[CSM]

"I'd love to work for an employer who doesn't employ any smokers.
Health care costs for the employer would go down which could result in higher wages for myself and co-workers."

Actually, in at least one of the cases involved here that is not true. The employee was not even part of that employers health coverage package. She was covered by her husbands employer. Now, this employer must hire a new employee and risk adding that employee to the company's health coverage. Therefore, this policy is costing him a premium.

That said, he has every right to make bad business decisions that will alienate the market he desires to capture. He stated in other articles that he would like to be the benefit coordinator for the Big 3, by doing this he just alienated the UAW....

[whereasandsoforth]

I forgot to add to #15 that I wholly support this crazy person's right to run his business anyway he sees fit. I am wholly opposed to his ideas becoming mandatory for every employer.

[sandbar]

>>>Health care costs for the employer would go down which could result in higher wages for myself and co-workers.>>>

That is a myth that is hooey. It is a reason for busybodies to attempt to order around other people.

[Mulder]

I'd love to work for an employer who doesn't employ any smokers.

Today smokers. Tomorrow gunowners.

And statist thugs here will still be proclaiming "hey, you don't have to work there".

[television is just wrong]

I agree with you. Years ago, I worked for Bob's big Boy Restaurants. 85% of the help smoked. Non smokers just had to deal with the smoke in the green room. It didn'lt matter if it bothered you. They laughed and said you're gonna die of something, don't worry about it.

[OKIEDOC]

In the long term you are wrong.

Would not be surprised to see some of those non smoking workers, go bonkers, walk in and take out some of those fellow employees.

I'll guarantee you that smoking is not the only thing this employer wants to control with his employees.

Next thing will be whether or not you can eat meat, eat junk food, drink alcohol and have sex outside the job.