The public space in which smoking is permitted has been shrinking for years. But now, merely being a smoker, regardless of where you indulge, can cost you professionally.
The New York Times reports that an increasing number of hospitals and other medical businesses are rejecting candidates for jobs on the basis of a smoking habit. The justification is that smoking raises health care costs and reduces productivity.
“We felt it was unfair for employees who maintained healthy lifestyles to have to subsidize those who do not,” said Steven C. Bjelich, chief executive of St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo., of his company’s policy against hiring smokers.
Critics say that this is an unfair intrusion into an employee’s personal life.
“There is nothing unique about smoking,” said Lewis Maltby, president of the National Workrights Institute, which opposes denying employment because of a tobacco habit. “The number of things that we all do privately that have negative impact on our health is endless. If it’s not smoking, it’s beer. If it’s not beer, it’s cheeseburgers. And what about your sex life?”
Even some anti-smoking figures object to these rules.
“If enough of these companies adopt these policies and it really becomes difficult for smokers to find jobs, there are going to be consequences,” Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, told the Times. “Unemployment is also bad for health.”
Twenty-nine states have adopted laws that prevent such hiring bans. However, some states have exceptions for the health-care industry, and the practice is considered likely to grow in the states where no such statute is on the books.
“We’ve had a number of inquiries over the last six to 12 months about how to do this,” said Paul Terpeluk of the Cleveland Clinic, where hiring smokers has been banned since 2007. “The trend line is getting pretty steep, and I’d guess that in the next few years you’d see a lot of major hospitals go this way.”
Although it is hard on individuals, there is something to be said for ensuring that those working in the health care field are being held to live a healthy lifestyle. This would seem to make sense in terms of alcohol consumption, drug consumption, obesity and smoking. By taking such a policy, these health care providers are raising the bar on what is required of their employees while showing patients role models of a sort. At the same time, such an approach might also provide the impetus to individuals to give up the habit when they have otherwise had little interest or success.
I think it is wrong for any healthcare institution to deny u employment because you smoke.What you do in your private life is your business and as long as you are not
smoking within the work place is the main issue.This is an invasion of privacy and violating your cival rights.Cigaretts are legal and are not an illega l substance.If the
employee is using narcotics or other illegal substance,then the employer can take action.
And if you want cigaretts to become obsolete stop making them and make them illegal.
Cigaretts are part of the shopping list at krogers,publix its a part life and if you want cig
The government legalized alcohol and tob aco and then
then the healthcare employee wants to set guide lines on
you about smoking.That is ridiculus and invading your
cival rights.And if the employee is not smoking within the
place of employment then they are not wrong in any way
and have a right to be employed there.You can not dictate the way people live there life and if they are performing there as they are expected to,then we must only concern
ourselfs with that issue.You cannot tell me that people that are already employed within these health institutions don’t drink or smoke and if you think they don’t you living in the twilight zone.Healthcare careers are a very demanding and
stressful job and these people go home and have sex and drink and smoke just like anybody else.You think all they do is jog and read books,you living in a dream world.
a very demanding and stresful job and these healthcare need relaxation.You think all they do is jog and read books give me a
don’tyou
smoke or drink in there private life
and if you think they don