Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mass. smoker sues over firing
Boston.com ^ | Wednesday, November 29, 2006 | Sacha Pfeiffer

Posted on 11/29/2006 3:01:47 PM PST by GQuagmire

A Buzzards Bay man has filed a civil rights lawsuit against The Scotts Company, the lawn care giant, which fired him after a drug test showed nicotine in his urine, putting him in violation of a company policy forbidding employees to smoke on or off the job

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 221-237 next last
To: GQuagmire

Dumb lawsuit. There is no such thing as a right to smoke.

The best he can hope for is to catch that SOB metrosexual owner of Scotts in Michigan where dueling is now legal.


21 posted on 11/29/2006 3:25:58 PM PST by sergeantdave (Consider that nearly half the people you pass on the street meet Lenin's definition of useful idiot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MovementConservative

Bingo. I love smokers. For every pack of cigarettes they buy, they pay $2-$4 of taxes that I don't have to pay.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em! Need a light?


22 posted on 11/29/2006 3:27:40 PM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: GQuagmire

Does Scotts make the fertilizer that tobacco farmers use on their tobacco? Maybe they know something that the general public does not know. Maybe they don't want to be sued for making fertilizer loaded with toxins that are soaked up by tobacco and then inhaled/ingested into the systems of tobacco smokers/users.


23 posted on 11/29/2006 3:29:07 PM PST by petitfour
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Poser
Bingo. I love smokers. For every pack of cigarettes they buy, they pay $2-$4 of taxes that I don't have to pay.

Plus they die some 5-7 years sooner saving SSN benefits for me!

Assuming there will be Social Security in 18 years when I retire......

24 posted on 11/29/2006 3:30:16 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (Abortion is to family planning what bankruptcy is to financial planning)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Poser
Not only do smokers pay more taxes but they receive less Social Security!!!


Furthermore, they create jobs for non smokers after they die prematurely or get fired for smoking.
25 posted on 11/29/2006 3:30:27 PM PST by trumandogz (Rudy G 2008: The "G" Stands For Gun Grabbing & Gay Lovin.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd
"...And Scott has the responsibility to be fair to all employees who want lower health care costs.."

And Scott has the responsibility to be fair to all employees who want to earn more take home pay by firing:
- any employee who does not work hard
- any employee who does not follow company policy
- any employee who does not enjoy mixing chemicals
(dangerous, noxious chemicals)
- any employee who does not have good, pure thoughts
- any employee who wants to increase health care costs by having a liver, kidney or heart transplant ('It's THEIR fault!!!!!!!!")

(<\sarc off)
26 posted on 11/29/2006 3:34:32 PM PST by Leo Farnsworth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: sergeantdave
The best he can hope for is to catch that SOB metrosexual owner of Scotts in Michigan where dueling is now legal.

Interrogative?

27 posted on 11/29/2006 3:34:39 PM PST by magslinger (When Law enforcement enforce idiotic Laws of Bad Politicians there are no good guys.-Phantom Patriot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: NEPA

What about if you drink? Waht about if you get a speeding ticket? What about if you have guns in your house? What about if you're 150 lbs overweight? What if you're only 50 lbs overweight?

All those could be deemed within the right of a company to regulate since all those things according to current PC thought could make you a high risk employee. Would you agree to firing on any of those grounds?


28 posted on 11/29/2006 3:35:01 PM PST by saganite (Billions and billions and billions-------and that's just the NASA budget!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: layman

He could argue that it was there from nicotine gum, couldn't he? What if he were using it to quit?

I know that contracts are there for this reason, but it does bother me a bit. And I don't smoke.


29 posted on 11/29/2006 3:35:17 PM PST by USMCWife6869
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: MovementConservative

im not so sure about that


30 posted on 11/29/2006 3:35:37 PM PST by wafflehouse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Cobra64

>>Poor company policy >>>----> Law suit >>>----> Press coverage >>>----> Lost sales among smokers<<

Count me in. I have roughly one cigar every two months. Would I have failed this test?


31 posted on 11/29/2006 3:36:16 PM PST by RobRoy (Islam is a greater threat to the world today than Naziism was in 1937.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GQuagmire

Here is an example of one of the more extreme policies I've seen. Great company and products, just a bit over the top on tobacco. They're in a rural setting in So. NH.

http://www.kimballphysics.com/about_KPI/visits.htm#Tobacco%20Policies


32 posted on 11/29/2006 3:36:19 PM PST by NewHampshireDuo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NEPA
they should be able to hire and fire anyone they want to within reason.

Only to the degree that their behavior directly affects their job. Otherwise your employer becomes your owner.

I will not buy another Scott's product.

33 posted on 11/29/2006 3:36:24 PM PST by IronJack (=)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Cicero

>>I suppose some accounted figured that health insurance for non-smokers is cheaper, or some such thing. <<

That excuse gives me the chills. It is the thinking behind helmet laws and ANY other nanny state (and company) rubber padding of my world and limits to my freedom on my own time. What about mountain biking, skydiving and Big Macs?


34 posted on 11/29/2006 3:38:06 PM PST by RobRoy (Islam is a greater threat to the world today than Naziism was in 1937.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: IronJack
"...I will not buy another Scott's product."

Ditto.

Got that Scotts?
35 posted on 11/29/2006 3:38:21 PM PST by Leo Farnsworth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: petitfour

Maybe they want tobacco companies to use their fertilizer instead.


36 posted on 11/29/2006 3:40:29 PM PST by petitfour
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: GQuagmire
Scott's Lawn Products...........

I hope their ass is grass.

Leni

37 posted on 11/29/2006 3:40:39 PM PST by MinuteGal (The Left takes power only through deception.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GQuagmire

Why do I get the impression that this is probably tied to a health care plan that the company pays for. The employee has agreed not to smoke for some reason.


38 posted on 11/29/2006 3:41:47 PM PST by RGSpincich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: saganite
How about a few to get liberals panties in a twist?

Homosexuality has been already been suggested.
A vegan diet is unnatural and unhealthy.
Neither eating nor drinking during daylight hours for a month poses health and safety risks.

39 posted on 11/29/2006 3:42:42 PM PST by magslinger (When Law enforcement enforce idiotic Laws of Bad Politicians there are no good guys.-Phantom Patriot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: USMCWife6869
I know that contracts are there for this reason, but it does bother me a bit. And I don't smoke.

But maybe you 'second hand smoke'. YOU'RE FIRED!

40 posted on 11/29/2006 3:46:05 PM PST by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 221-237 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson