Upcoming No Smoking Policy for LOWE'S Employees

[Kevin Curry]

They aren't being "forced" into anything. They can quit and find other work if they don't like the new rules. Lowe's can't force them to stay.

I suggest smokers form their own home project/improvement chain and make it a foundational company policy that employees are allowed to smoke anywhere, at anytime, and for as long as they want. Let's call the chain "The Duke's Home Improvement" in honor of the legendary one-lunged chain-smoking John Wayne.

Quit whining and win this fight the American way.

[SheLion]

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.

Smoking is legal.

[SheLion]

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

We've had run-in's with you before. Nuff said, Conservative Brother!

[SheLion]

Quit whining and win this fight the American way.

I posted this as an FYI! And being an American gal, I know no other way TO fight.

[Cultural Jihad]

Smoking is legal.

So are cutoff jeans, foppish top hats, singing opera, and downing whiskey.

[Kevin Curry]

And being an American gal, I know no other way TO fight.

Start your own business, Take risks. Become an entrepreneur. Fill a need that isn't being filled by existing merchants. If you believe a completely tobacco tolerant sales environment would attract enough similalrly-minded shoppers to make the business succesful, cater to that unmet need.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Take care.

[Max McGarrity]

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.

Actually "statistics show that smokers as a group" are no less productive, take no more days off, are no more sickly, and are therefore no more costly than other workers. The only people who disagree are anti-smokers, and if they're talkin' they're lyin'. Obesity costs companies more, as does poverty. One of the major British insurance actuaries recently broke the story that they overcharge smokers since there's no difference in smokers and nonsmokers, statistically, at least until age 40.

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.

Just one more reason I wouldn't work for Ted Turner in ANY capacity, and it's Turner's loss, not mine.

[Max McGarrity]

Start your own business, Take risks. Become an entrepreneur. Fill a need that isn't being filled by existing merchants. If you believe a completely tobacco tolerant sales environment would attract enough similalrly-minded shoppers to make the business succesful, cater to that unmet need.

Which is, of course, what those who demand completely smokefree establishments (i.e., restaurants, bars, etc) should do. I agree that Lowe's has every right to determine their own policy just as their employees (are they unionized?) have to negotiate different terms and customers have to show their displeasure by shopping elsewhere. The American Way, indeed.

[potlatch]

I sent them an e-mail, for what it's worth;

Prepare for some loss of business due to your policy of preventing employies from even being able to smoke outside your stores!
Next, it will be the obese, the drinkers, etc. until you have fulfilled the liberal agenda of taking away peoples rights, other than killing babies by abortion.
Our world is going crazy!! [signed xxx]

[Indrid Cold]

I used to work at a newspaper, in news comp, and we all chain-smoked.

[proud to be breathing]

oral sex between a married couple is not legal in any number of states, including Florida. Should we prosecute all couples who have had oral sex in Florida?

[proud to be breathing]

Both Apple and Microsoft are vehemently anti smoking companies. I spent about $2200 today at Lowes for my business. If anyone here think that Home Depot is some great alternative for conservatives, check out their web site, its full of blather about promoting cultural divesity, enviromental awareness, etc.

[Not_Who_U_Think]

Interestingly, Lowes home office is in North Wilksboro, NC - the heart of tobacco country. At least they were based there a few years ago. Since they've become a much larger company they probably have a different management team.

This action is also an extension upon the use of employment drug testing. When companies began drug testing back in the 80s, most people agreed that critical jobs should have some testing 'for the public good'. Within 10 years, a majority of companies were testing. In some states, employers get a lower rate if they drug test. Once we as a society accepted the concept that employees were not just selling their labor - they were selling their lives, it has continued to eat at personal liberty.

In part, this is being driven by insurance companies who hold out the carrot of lower premiums in exchange for assumed lower risk. Sadly, this can only spread to other risks such as obesity, perhaps accident-prone lifestyles like motorcycles, or even to the point where companies can review your general medical history - with your permission... (you DO want this job, don't you?)

[Bahbah]

Oh dear, what's a concientious shopper to do?

[Just another Joe]

Statistics show that smokers as a group are more proned to (insert any limited number of diseases here)

Would you care to post a link to these statistics.
I don't want to call you a liar but I think you're either mistaken or someone has fed you a line of anti-ism.
Studies that I have seen actually point to the fact that smokers take no more sick days, take no more time off, and have no more 'diseases' than nonsmokers, at least until later in life.

[MissAmericanPie]

Let the boycot begin, I don't shop Lowes anyway, Home Depot is far better and I like that they told the Fed to stuff it with their racial parity demands.

Can you imagine the headache for all the branches nation wide to try to keep a certain percentage of minority employees with all the people that move through their employ?

[ArrogantBustard]

You max out your credit cards? What a foolish practice! Not the only one people engage in, which happens to be legal, but still foolish.

Whassamatta, puffers? Can't stand disagreement?

[Afronaut]

Home Depot is a Chinese front. EVERYTHING there is cheap Chinese crap. And Tony Stewart is a Moron.

Smokers are too stupid to quit. <--- My mother included. When your on your death bed you will wish you didn't smoke. Like my Aunt is now.