Hospital will not hire tobacco users - Page 2

It's a slippery slope of discrimination by outcasting and ostracizing that really frightens me about the furture of "Freedom" with "Justice and liberty" for all......does anyone else find this scary........

This year our hospital went tobacco/smoke free. No tobacco use while on company time, no tobacco use on the hospital campus (so if you wanted to smoke you need to clock out, walk 1 block and stand on a corner). Additionally, our insurance now includes a tobacco use surcharge of $50/month if you are a tobacco user. There was a mild uproar when it went into effect, but now, 6 months later it's just the way it is. I think it's reasonable.

So when will they start genetic testing to see if you are predisposed for disease.......

Genetic predisposition to disease(s) is not something over which the individual has any control -- tobacco (and other substance) use is.

"Freedom"? Being addicted to nicotine is a little like slavery.

As a patient, I don't want to smell any strong smells and that would include tobacco smoke, perfume, cologne and bad breath. Can't imagine being nauseous from chemo drugs and having a stinky medical professional standing in the same room as me.

I agree with THE COMMUTER. As a smoker even I can understand that a hospital would implement a "non smoking policy" at work. I have had a job or 2, that had that policy. However, what you do at home on your time..is another situation entirely. And the biggest concern I have is the same...what's next? Obesity, alcohol?? And it really seems inappropriate that current employees are exempt from the policy.

I support the rights of people to smoke.
I support the rights of the business to refuse to hire smokers.

"I honestly think that any employee that sets foot on a patient floor or unit that shows up smelling of smoke should be sent home to shower, shampoo and change clothes. "

Amen to that sister!

I think I'll just light up again, then file for unemployment, and social security I'm due and medicaid. Then when the timecomes- I turn 65 - I'll apply for medicare and suck the country dry. Oh I forgot to add- I'm going to buy a home in a 55 plus community.I'm going to keep all my 30 yrs of RN experience to myself. And watch all the young non smokers work.- That's my plan.

We are going to see more and more of this thing happen in a desperate attempt at keeping health care costs down. Rates can only raise so much before other things have to be looked at to curtail expenses. Dropping the heavy baggage first makes good financial sense, no matter how unfair people think that may be.