Posted on 09/25/2011 7:38:46 AM PDT by upchuck
Currently there are some 14 million jobless Americans. And if you’re one of the thousands of North Texans looking for work, the competition is tough.
Now, a new hiring limitation by one employer could make the job search even harder.
The Baylor Health Care System has decided that if you use tobacco, in any form, you won’t get a job with them.
“I don’t like it,” said Cassie Grooms. “I don’t think it’s fair.”
Smokers like Grooms were quick to condemn Baylor’s new policy that basically conveys: if you use nicotine, there’s no need to apply.
“We all have the right to smoke a cigarette,” Grooms said in disagreement. “I can understand not [smoking] on their property, but to not hire somebody for smoking…”
Baylor officials claim smoking has a lot to do with the high cost of health care. The FDA estimates smoking costs American employers some $200 billion a year in lost productivity and increased medical costs.
“It’s about how we continue to deal with the rising health care costs,” said Baylor CEO Joel Allison. “It’s about how do we really focus on the new model of health care around prevention and well, and how do we keep people healthy. And I think that’s very, very important for us as a city, a state and a nation.”
Smoking was banned at all Baylor campuses four years ago. But, can they legally refuse to hire smokers?
“Absolutely they can,” said Dallas employment attorney Thomas Brandt. “People think well, that’s discriminatory, but really there are only certain factors that you cannot consider when making hiring decisions.”
Things like race, gender, ethnicity or national origin cannot be considered when hiring an employee.
If increased medical costs are a consideration for banning employee tobacco use, then ponder this: obesity is also a national health crisis. According to the CDC obesity costs employers some $147 billion a year.
Is that like the "right" to a driver's license or the "right" to a job or the "right" to Food Stamps or the "right" to...
Wow.....I wonder what they’re going to do with all those Respiratory Therapists? (Notorious smokers)
How about other factors, like gay sex, illegal drug use, risky hobbies ... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smart move Baylor.
And she has the "right" to not apply at Baylor.
Do they hire ex-smokers?
Don’t you understand, upchuck? It’s not fair! Cassie doesn’t think it’s fair! If a person doesn’t think something is fair, well, that’s it. We must achieve perceived fairness for all.
A few generations ago who would have thought that in the Land Of The Free smoking a cigarette would be less socially acceptable than:
Does this mean that they’d not hire my son who’s a T1 diabetic?
According to this, they would. He has higher medical costs, after all.
That can be fixed.
How about alchohol drinkers, who are a risk?
Or, "women of child-bearing age" should be excluded, too, as they place "burden on medical costs"????
Where does political correctness end? What about those who own guns? What about those who smoke pot/use illegal drugs?
You got that right.
What makes me mad is that I *must* quit smoking soon. I am having surgery and I have to be 6 weeks smoke-free in order to do it.
But these smoking-nazis make me want to light up and blow it in their faces.
This has nothing to do with Cigarettes being a legal product. The healthcare costs for smokers are considerably higher than those for non-smokers. And smoking is a voluntary activity. If the policy is preventing you from getting a job... then quit.
This is the free market and freedom of choice in action. I’m really surprised there is whining about it on FR.
Actually, it would probably not be in his interest to reveal his T1 diabetes in an interview. Particularly with a small company where one person could really affect things; brutal fact, but if they have 6-8 genuinely qualified applicants for a position than they are going to use “anything you say”....
Sad but true.
What makes me mad is that I *must* quit smoking soon. I am having surgery and I have to be 6 weeks smoke-free in order to do it.
Why?
Your son isn’t voluntarily a diabetic. Smoking is a voluntary, high-risk activity.
If Baylor is unable to fill its job openings due to this policy, they have the option of rescinding it.
So is having sex (*any* non-monogamous sex), riding motorcycles, drinking alcohol, going skiing, riding horses, farming in general, working as a crane operator or on a fishing boat, cutting down trees, sunbathing...
Year ago, us smokers warned the non-smokers that the Nanny State mentality would not stop with us. We promised you that they’d come after *some* vice of yours at some point.
Now it’s happening.
Either you stand for personal liberty or you don’t.
I’m having a complete spinal fusion. (my entire spine will be one long bone) It’s a very high-risk surgery and I need to be in the best condition to get the best result. No surgeon will even touch me for this unless I’m at least 6 weeks smoke-free.
Over the last year, I’ve lost 55 pounds and been hitting myself with vitamins and minerals. I was supposed to be sunbathing this summer, but it was just too hot. I’m trying to get in as much as I can now before it’s too late.
I would think you’d want to be smoke free before your surgery.
Why does that get you so angry you want to blow smoke in their faces? They’re trying to get you through the procedure as risk free as possible.
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