Arizona County Mulls Not Hiring Smokers

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Arizona County Mulls Not Hiring Smokers

TUCSON, Ariz. — Dec 6, 2014, 1:27 PM ET

Pima County is considering no longer hiring smokers, and putting a price on workers who do smoke.

The Arizona Daily Star reports (http://bit.ly/15Vjj50) that the Pima County Board of Supervisors will vote later this month on a policy that would refuse the hiring of any smokers.

The proposal would also impose a 30 percent health-insurance surcharge on employees who smoke or consumer other tobacco products.

County health officials say the policy could lead to more than $1 million in savings annually in health-care costs.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/arizona-county-mulls-hiring-smokers-27413986

[gwheezie]

1. They drug test for nicotine where I work

They gave us a year to quit will not hire smokers. Smoking is grounds for termination.

[NutmegYankee]

6. I seriously believe that should be outlawed.

You shouldn't be drug tested or punished for using legal substances.

[AnalystInParadise]

8. Remind me

to never apply for a job where you work. I don't even smoke, but still......

[Terra Alta]

18. I don't know where you work

But that sounds really draconian. And I don't even smoke.

[gwheezie]

19. I Work for a catholic healthcare system

This started about 3 years ago.

[boston bean]

2. What about the drinkers???

Hell, lots of insurance cost attributed to alcoholism and drinking.....

[Mutiny In Heaven]

3. As long as they also stop hiring the obese.

And anyone with any pre-existing condition with a reasonable chance of recurrence.

[sabrina 1]

15. And prescription drug users, drinkers and well, just about everyone except those who run this

country.

Looks like they're getting ready to start a new, profitable Drug War. And to see so-called Liberals supporting it after the decades of horror the Drug War has wrought, is simply stunning to me.

Even the moron Edwin Meese is now regretting what 'I did not anticipate' regarding his disastrous, life destroying Drug War. He has joined his former Arch Enemy, the Civil Liberties Union to try to undo some of the damage he and his fellow Drug Warriors have done. Too late for the millions whose lives they destroyed, but better late than never I suppose.

So we're off to do it again I guess, the Cigarette War. It's already begun to have some of the same devastating effects on lives.

See Eric Garner.

Liberals, supporting the destruction these so-called 'wars' on people's personal choices, mostly the poor and minorities, will have, have had and the only beneficiaries are the criminals who profit from them.

[Mutiny In Heaven]

20. Yep. I say if employers want to go down this road

then they should not only provide employees with the very best level of health insurance available, they should routinely offer premium, healthy food free of charge, ample 'exercise breaks' during the work day and a generous amount of time off so that workers don't burn themselves out.

[etherealtruth]

4. I have real concerns r/t ....

LEGAL ACTIVITIES.

Certainly, an employer (in this case a governmental entity) may prohibit smoking (or whtaever) on their property or in the conductance of one's duties .... but how does an employer (or government) prohibit an employee from engaging in legal activities on their own time?

[Nye Bevan]

7. As long as you don't discriminate based on race, sex, religion, or disability,

and in some places sexual orientation, it is perfectly legal to hire or not hire people for any reason whatsoever.

[NutmegYankee]

9. Do you agree with that?

[etherealtruth]

12. I understand what is "legal" ....

... I am discussing what is "right"

I have concerns about employers (actually strongly oppose) employers prohibiting legal behaviors/ activities on an employees own time and off the employers property.

[Nye Bevan]

5. No more smokers taking frequent breaks to go outside,

leaving everyone else to do the work, while they throw their disgusting butts onto the ground in the parking lot to leave for someone else to clean up, then come back in smelling disgusting and leaving a stinky trail behind them as they walk through the office?

Sounds like a plan to me.

[AnalystInParadise]

10. Next we can go after the meat eaters

or those vegan nutjobs with their patchouli and soy milkshakes............. You may need some new footwear....

[Nye Bevan]

14. Yeah, when the meat eaters congregate in the parking lot to eat bacon

and fling the remains of it all over the place, and then come back inside spreading their bacon stink everywhere, that's probably a good idea.

[Terra Alta]

16. so ban employees from smoking on company property

And during their working hours.

Lighting up a cigarette when they get home after a long, stressful day at work should not be grounds for termination or refusal to hire.

[williesgirl]

21. Wow, who licked the red off your lollipop today?

[AnalystInParadise]

11. Thank the goddess

my job is in Cochise County. I am not smoker, but I want no part of this nanny state bullshit.

[Terra Alta]

13. I'm not a smoker

But this is a really bad policy. Now I can understand if they don't want employees smoking while on the clock, or on company property, but just smoking in general? Ridiculous.

[etherealtruth]

17. I think most of us understand this ....

It is NOT about smoking (I wish no one smoked) .... it is about employers attempting to control LEGAL behavior .... outside of the work environment or property.