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Thread: Company fires smokers...

  1. #1
    Se7en Guest

    Company fires smokers...

    Company Fires Smokers

    Michigan Firm Won't Allow Smoking, Even On Employee's Own Time

    POSTED: 5:53 pm EST January 24, 2005
    UPDATED: 6:26 pm EST January 24, 2005
    LANSING, Mich. -- A Michigan health care company has fired four of its employees for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes.

    The company enacted a new policy this month, allowing workers to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking takes place after-hours, or at home.
    The founder of Weyco Inc. said the company doesn't want to pay the higher health care costs associated with smoking.An official of the company -- which administers health benefits -- estimated that 18 to 20 of its 200 employees were smokers when the policy was first announced in 2003. As many as 14 of them quit smoking before the policy went into effect.
    Every Lawyers DREAM case

  2. #2
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    BS with a capital B
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  3. #3
    Se7en Guest
    This screams discrimination. The question that should be asked is: Since this company is firing people because they smoke because of rising health insurance, why haven't they fired anyone for drinking alcohol? Stuides have shown that alcohol abuse can lead to serious health issues.

    You cannot isolate a single group, and expect it to be upheld. You have to apply it to the majority, or not at all.

    Each of those employees will walk away with 100K each. They could also fight to have their jobs back.

  4. #4
    princesskittypoo Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Se7en
    This screams discrimination. The question that should be asked is: Since this company is firing people because they smoke because of rising health insurance, why haven't they fired anyone for drinking alcohol? Stuides have shown that alcohol abuse can lead to serious health issues.

    You cannot isolate a single group, and expect it to be upheld. You have to apply it to the majority, or not at all.

    Each of those employees will walk away with 100K each. They could also fight to have their jobs back.
    don't forget about the people who overeat... remember they have more health problems than either of the other two...

  5. #5
    Se7en Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by princesskittypoo
    don't forget about the people who overeat... remember they have more health problems than either of the other two...
    Exactly. So now companies are going to control people's diets, smoking habits, and alcohol consumption?

    Incredible. I would have a field day if I got that case to argue!

  6. #6
    Ophie Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Se7en
    This screams discrimination. The question that should be asked is: Since this company is firing people because they smoke because of rising health insurance, why haven't they fired anyone for drinking alcohol? Stuides have shown that alcohol abuse can lead to serious health issues.

    You cannot isolate a single group, and expect it to be upheld. You have to apply it to the majority, or not at all.

    Each of those employees will walk away with 100K each. They could also fight to have their jobs back.
    Good point. How about firing people for obesity too? That's costly in the long run. That would be politically incorrect though, so we'll just pick on the smokers.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ophie
    Good point. How about firing people for obesity too? That's costly in the long run. That would be politically incorrect though, so we'll just pick on the smokers.
    What about people with hangnails?
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  8. #8
    Ophie Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Gold9472
    What about people with hangnails?
    Yeah, throw them on the list too.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ophie
    Yeah, throw them on the list too.
    The ONLY thing a company MAY BE able to do is charge someone who smokes more for their health coverage...
    No One Knows Everything. Only Together May We Find The Truth JG


  10. #10
    Se7en Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by Gold9472
    The ONLY thing a company MAY BE able to do is charge someone who smokes more for their health coverage...
    No, that can't happen. Even if there was an option to add that to the companies rider, it will still be discriminatory. Do they charge extra for people that have been diganosed with Diabetes? Or maybe Breast Cancer? You don't charge them, you can't charge the smokers.

    The only viable argument would be 'well, smoking is a choice - diseases are not'. That really isn't the issue here. What the issue is: is that the company is starting to infrindge on a person's rights. As long as they meet the legal requirements to smoke, then the company cannot dictate what they do in their own time.

    Ban smoking from work. That is an option; however, firing people for smoking is illegal.

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