Upcoming No Smoking Policy for LOWE'S Employees

[Milwaukee_Guy]

My Fortune 500 employer banned smoking anywhere inside the plant or office as of last January 2001.

Here's the problem with that,

- Smoking is still legal.
- It's not my company's business if I smoke.
- I'm not a piece of the company's property.
- Our plant is full of chrome plating, oxide coating, welding, cutting oil, cleaning fluid, propane exhaust and a myriad of other fumes. Second hand smoke is the least of our problems.
- This discriminates against older workers who typicalluy smoke more than younger people who don't.

The anti-smoking police have opened a Pnadora's box of regulation which will soon affect non-smokers as well,

Why should any employee be overweight, ride a motorcycle, skydive, own a firearm, go boating, drive a sports car or engage in any activity that would impact the corporation or raise insurance costs?

Who decides what is dangerous?

Think about it. You are the property of the corporation. You may not engage in legal activites if it in any way may harm you as an asset to the company.

Have a Nice Day!

[southern rock]

Turner Broadcasting prohibits the smoking of all employees...on or OFF the job. If you work for Ted Turner, you cannot smoke, period.

Yeah, right. Let the jerkwad try and prove it.

[PistolPaknMama]

One of the worst things that's happened in this War on Smokers is the apparent inability to compromise, to work out a problem, to stop short of zero tolerance in an effort to accommodate everyone.

It's not about banning together. Statistics show that smokers as a group are more proned to (insert any limited number of diseases here) and companies who provide health insurance are unwilling to burden the costs of rising insurance rates. If they can keep their employees healthier, then their bottom line is also more healthy. Turner Broadcasting banned smoking of all employees years ago. You can't smoke at home. You can't smoke on the weekends. You can't smoke.

[oldtimer]

The problem is human nature, SheLion.

There was a time when real prejudices were the vogue like TWO MINUTES HATE in Orwell's 1984. There were ethnic prejudices galore, and it was very much the psyche of the public.

Since then the media, hollywood, and government have made all of this politically incorrect.

The bottom line is that people have to have somebody to hate...and today it is smokers: A typical case of human nature! Everything else is doubleplusungood.

[ArrogantBustard]

Also, I have no problem not shopping at Lowe's.

Well, smell! I have not problem shopping at Lowe's, and not only will continue to do so, but may even increase my shopping there. And I have a few major purchases coming up. Ain't freedom lovely?

[PistolPaknMama]

What about their obese?

What about homosexuals? Aren't they at a higher risk for ...ummmm, AIDS? Weeeee doggy, that could make your employee health insurance premium skyrocket. But then we don't want to be insensitive, do we?

[SheLion]

Lowe's is closer to me. I will drive the extra distance to Home Depot. HEAR THAT, HOME DEPOT.

Good for you!

[Cultural Jihad]

I almost feel sorry for the Lowe's employees, er, wage-slaves, who are forced to work there against their will. :/

[SheLion]

And I have a few major purchases coming up. Ain't freedom lovely?

Go for it, Conservative!

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"Statistics show that smokers as a group are more proned to (insert any limited number of diseases here) and companies who provide health insurance are unwilling to burden the costs of rising insurance rates."

Why did my company go after smokers last year but allow brand new benefit coverage for "domestic partners"?

What does it cost to treat an AIDS victim?

[SheLion]

I almost feel sorry for the Lowe's employees, er, wage-slaves, who are forced to work there against their will. :/

Well, think about it. The smoking employees had their breaks to go grab a quick smoke all these years. Now, they won't be able to smoke at work.....not even in their private vehicles on LOWE'S lot. Oh! But wait! LOWE'S is going of "offer a smoking cessation class." How sweet it is.........not.

It's either "Quit Smoking Or Your Out Of Here."

[oldtimer]

Good - max out your credit card, while I go to Home Depot which believes in freedom for their employees.

[SheLion]

Good - max out your credit card, while I go to Home Depot which believes in freedom for their employees.

Your a good guy, oldtimer. I respect you! I love true Americans, that's for sure.

[JavaTheHutt]

Is LOWE'S going to put the OBESE employees on strict diets? Loose pounds or lose job?

Eating food will no longer be allowed on Lowes premises. Instead of eating food on their lunch breaks, employees will be encouraged to go back to the lumber department and hug the remains of a tree.

[Kevin Curry]

I wonder how LOWE'S is going to deal with their OBESE employees, since the Surgeon General said that Obesity has now passed smoking, alcoholism and poverty for health care and disease! Is LOWE'S going to put the OBESE employees on strict diets? Loose pounds or lose job?

If Lowe's wanted to pass anti-obesity rules, are you suggesting the company shouldn't be allowed to? By what authority? The Americans with Disabilities Act?

[Kevin Curry]

It's either "Quit Smoking Or Your Out Of Here."

Go work at Home Depot. By all means.

[SheLion]

Eating food will no longer be allowed on Lowes premises. Instead of eating food on their lunch breaks, employees will be encouraged to go back to the lumber department and hug the remains of a tree.

Oh my! LOL!

[SheLion]

If Lowe's wanted to pass anti-obesity rules, are you suggesting the company shouldn't be allowed to? By what authority? The Americans with Disabilities Act?

Hey! They can pick and choose whomever they want to hire. But they should have set down ground rules before they started the hiring process. Changing rules in midstream is not right. What choice do these people have now? They are being forced into something they do not want, and it's just going to add to more misery or hating to go to work.

They are going to sneak cigarettes in places that might not be in a safe area. I think it's terrible.

Also, what about the Anti-Discrimination Act? This is discrimination.

[Cultural Jihad]

How can you discriminate against a behavior? Are you saying you have no choice in your actions? Is business never able to set its own standards? Show me where in the job application it states that Lowe's will never change their work rules.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Good point. Since people are obese, we should make it a right to give people cancer from second hand smoke. Sweet.