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by amyk from Lake Mary, FL

Last Post 11 days, 4 hours Ago


PICKING ON SMOKERS?
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:00 PM
Category: News
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Employers ponder tough tactics to halt smoking

Victoria Colliver, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Howard Weyers tried the "carrot" approach by giving his employees incentives and encouragement to quit smoking. But when that didn't work, he resorted to the stick. A big stick.

Weyers, owner of a health care benefits administrator in Lansing, Mich., gave his 200 employees an ultimatum in 2004: Quit smoking in 15 months or lose your job. He refused to hire smokers. Ultimately, he extended his smoking ban to employees' spouses and monitored compliance through mandatory random blood testing.

Weyers' method, while effective, wouldn't fly in California because the state has laws that prohibit employers from making hiring or firing decisions based on employee participation in a legal activity.

About 45 million Americans smoke cigarettes despite more than three decades of public efforts to encourage people to quit.

In addition to lost work hours, employers have a vested interest in getting their workforce to kick the habit, given that they pay a large portion of health care costs and are the main source of health insurance for more than half the population.

Smoking by the numbers

-- About 23 percent of American adults and 28 percent of teens smoke.

-- 70 percent of smokers say they want to quit.

-- 10 percent of smokers living today suffer from a smoking-related illness.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Surgeon General; State of California; American Cancer Society.

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Should employers have the right to give their employees an ultimatum -- quit smoking or you're fired?  This guy is even banning employee's spouses from smoking!

And how about that MANDATORY random blood testing? 

 

 

28 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 28
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rexsmom read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:15 PM

Bad idea, it's Michigan, what do you expect?
candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:48 PM

This is so sad. One thing I respect is an employer that doesn't hired smokers but when it extend to the point of running someone's lives and their families THAT CAN'T BE A GOOD THING. I am sorry I am a smoker, I wont say I am proud but I am not ashamed. I don't flick my ashes or butts everywhere, I carry my own darn ashtray and I always ask the person around me, if it would bother them if they say yes I go away somewhere else and if not I stay in my corner. I can't believe how this country is now dictating peoples way of living. HECK WE MIGHT AS WELL JUST BRING CASTRO IN..AND LET HIM TAKE THE LEAD...lol How are you Amy? Hope all is well.
candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:52 PM

on another note, let me just say, I grew up in a household of smokers..knock on wood NOTHING EVER HAPPENED to any of us. I can still remember back in the days 70' 80's people smoked everywhere, in hospitals, offices etc. and BELIEVE IT OR NOT..compare to life now, it was a much healthier environment. As soon as all this second hand smoke nonsense started life just doesn't the same. I feel it has gone to pots. Another thing, I became a smoker in my mid 20's but not as bad as I am now, thank God I am healthy but do you know how many people I have lost friends THAT NEVER EVER SMOKED..TO ALL TYPES OF THROAT AND LUNG CANCERS...I think back in the days people LIVE MUCH HEALTHIER LIVES AND THE STRESS NOW IS KILLING EVERYONE AND THEY ARE CONFUSING IT WITH drinking smoking can't eat this can't have that..blah blah blah. EVERYTHING IN MODERATION......is a good thing. LOL..ok bye
candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 1:53 PM

oops meant to say life doesn't seem the same..when everyone started dictating WHAT'S GOOD AND BAD......yeah right.
signal12 read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 4:31 PM

Hmm sounds like a good Law suit...
FlaNative read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 4:50 PM

I think they should do it...but first, lets fire anyone overweight (as serious or more so than smoking). Then lets go after anyone who rides a bicycle or motorcycle (both very dangerous), then anyone who lives in a neighborhood with a crime rate above the average, skydivers, skateboarders, etc, etc, etc.

Maybe you think this is ok..you don't smoke..but before long, they will be coming after you!!!!!
FlaNative read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 4:50 PM

and their little spouses too!!!! hehehehe
Twizlled read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 6:55 PM

I think its ridiculus, unless your gonna pay me 24/7 you have no control over me off the clock.
And if thats going to be the future for us.....guess I wont be working, and become a burden to society.
They do better than me anyhow.
pattiep read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 7:58 PM

Employers pay you they don't own you. On their time you need to obey the rules, off the clock you are free to do what you want. This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. I hate cigarettes and wish people would get smart and stop. It's not an illegal substance. So why try and control peoples lives.
BornToBeWild read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:03 PM

When it has nothing to do with work and the employee's performance at work, then it is an invasion of privacy and people's rights! They talk about firing smokers now; next it will be obesity...so why are they allowed to place judgment on people's rights and privacy? I don't recall any law that takes away rights and privacy!
Mater01 read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:06 PM

When I am paying for my own health insurance, no employer has the right to dictate what I can or can't do! I don't smoke while I'm working anyway and what I do off the job isn't no one's business but my own!
Truthguys read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:31 PM

Part of my company employement selection is smokers and home smokers. If a person is stupid enough to smoke they wont work for me. Would you drink milk if on the side of the package it told you it could kill you? So it has to be a moron who smokes... I dont hire morons.
Truthguys read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 8:55 PM

I might add I dont like the increase Insurance costs and the absentism. I cant committ to a smoker since they are a short term employee who hangs outside the building in smoking breaks (like I love to see Hosptial nurses do). They are way off in productivity let alone the logic process.
golfman read my blog
Jun 17, 2008 | 9:46 PM

I think people that like to protest everything they don't like need to get a life. Do you all realize that more people die of obesity than from cigarette smoking. Maybe employers need to fire employees that are obese and over weight. HAH!!! Never happen because the employers are probably way overweight too. What hypocrites. I think there should be health warnings on fattening food and at all fast food restaurants. Also do you realize that there has never been a proven case of someone dying of second hand smoke.

Let's all concentrate on things that are harmful to our health. Like terrorist nations that are out to destroy us.

For instance how about their latest attack on us called economic terroism. It is working very well. The oil producing countries that control the world's supply of oil are doing it very well.
evychampange view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:18 PM

Something gotta be done, people smoking every where. Go to the beach,and the sand has butts allover the place. Go to the park for fresh air, there people smoking . Riding the car on the highway with the air on and the car in front of you,person smoking, goes right in your car. Even at work, there are five of us that work together, three smoke cigarettes. My mother smokes too,she smokes in her room and I know when she lights up, it goes though the house. My car parked in front of the house,left side of the carport. She smokes by the carport. And my car smells of cigarettes.I wish goverment or something can do some thing for the smokers or raise the price for cigarettes.Where ever I go,smell that smoke!
davidpatrick344 read my blog view my photos
Jun 17, 2008 | 10:24 PM

isnt that where obammas from big brother will getr a lot bigger when he gets in
northton read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2008 | 12:56 AM

Howard Weyers is a scum bag communist. I hope he gets sued for every last penny he owns, and I hope anyone who supports this or him is sued. Checking spouses? Blood tests? What is this, Russia?

Some people! Forget about smoking, obesity, even drugs. When people are allowed to mess with Americans' private lives, then we have gone too far toward the nanny state, big brother, and living like rats in a cage.

I dunno about you guys, but I'm an adult, and I would love to personally shove my adult sized foot up Weyers' ass.
FloridaBrit read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2008 | 6:10 AM

bad idea

what's next-telling workers to lose weight because they could get heart desease or diabetes and will get fired??
Twizlled read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2008 | 8:07 AM

Truthguys, wow what a flammatory statement. All smokers are morons???????? very apt at stereotyping are we? it's not nice to lump all into one category, after all we are all different, not all smokers waste time smoking on the job. Shooo I see non smokers all the time wandering around trying to avoid work! Try to find assistance in Walmart per say?
I'm more offended by these people that think their cell phone is GOD!
But this is American and you do have the right to your own opinions, for now anyhow.
candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Jun 18, 2008 | 8:21 AM

I have to say TG...I am shocked by your response ARE YOU CALLING ME A MORON??? that's ok I have been called worst things.well.well...lol...Listen, I am of the opinion if an employer is smoke free that's FINE...but no employer can dictate the lives of their employees AFTER THEY FINISHED THEIR SHIFT......sorry but to me THAN THAT MAKES THE EMPLOYER A MORON.....and I rather have A SMOKER in the house than an alcoholic and drug users.........ya think. REALLY...like I said in the 70 and prior to that and up until early 90's THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH SMOKERS..funny when all this BLEEP of 2nd hand smoke STARTED..people are dying FROM WORST THINGS..WHICH HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SMOKERS.....I AM HURT NOW.......
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amyk

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Member Since: 8/4/2006


 

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