Pa hospital system won't hire smokers

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Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I'm okay with hiring smokers, as long as they don't do it at work. I hate trying to hunt down coworkers because they are outside for a "quick" break.

When our facility went non-smoking, several of our smokers quit. They all were surprised at how much more time they had during the day to get their work done. All stated they didn't realize how much time the smoking took.

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Specializes in Psychiatric, Detox/Rehab, Geriatrics.

It's discrimination- plain and simple!

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It's discrimination- plain and simple!

I'm sorry, you're looking for VictimsRUs, down the hall on the left.

It's no more discrimination then current drug screening conditions for employment.

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Unemployment, good point..And why is your reason for being terminated/fired Mr/Mrs? I smoke cigarettes....are you sure it wasn't misconduct/absenteeism/etc? No, it was because I smoke cigarettes.

I wonder how far that will make it before something is done as unemployment sky high now??? Take it as you may, but the more they push these idiotic rules, the more it will take a toll on the paychecks. The cost of umployment will come right out your checks..

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And then when skyrocketing un-employment goes even higher because every corporation jumps on this bandwagon what happens?

Well, I guess that when that happens and smokers can't get jobs because they smoke, lots of smokers will start to think seriously about quitting.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
Well, if you, as a smoker, want to drawn a comparison between smokers and nurses who commit felonies by diverting narcotics, go right ahead. Are you suggesting that they also have some sort of "right" to employment in healthcare? I doubt that people are going to line up to defend that principle ...

A comparison was NOT made between smokers and nurses who "commit felonies by diverting narcotics"...the poster simply said, nurses who take narcs at work. People are prescribed narcotics to treat painful conditions all the time. The ones who need them chronically can function normally in all aspects, but they would technically still be "taking narcs at work." Why do you assume that it would mean that a) it's being done unlawfully and b) it would be a diversion issue? See how conclusions are jumped to in every situation? You just did it.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Instead of complaining, why don't people use this as excuse to quit a nasty habit and stay a non-smoker. Just to play devils advocate... Everyone is complaining about the "smokers rights". I am not overweight, I don't drink, or smoke. What about my right not to have my heath insurance premiums go up because of the additional medical costs of smokers?

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Well, I guess that when that happens and smokers can't get jobs because they smoke, lots of smokers will start to think seriously about quitting.

No, we'll just sit on umployment for well over a year and take your money from your paycheck to help with that..

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No, we'll just sit on umployment for well over a year and take your money from your paycheck to help with that..

I guess that would depend on whether you would qualify for unemployment. It's not automatic just because one doesn't have a job ...

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A comparison was NOT made between smokers and nurses who "commit felonies by diverting narcotics"...the poster simply said, nurses who take narcs at work. People are prescribed narcotics to treat painful conditions all the time. The ones who need them chronically can function normally in all aspects, but they would technically still be "taking narcs at work." Why do you assume that it would mean that a) it's being done unlawfully and b) it would be a diversion issue? See how conclusions are jumped to in every situation? You just did it.

I apologize if I misinterpreted the meaning of "taking" narcotics. I did interpret it as referring to stealing narcotics -- perhaps because I can't imagine ever be willing to work as a professional in a healthcare setting while on narcotics (although I realize plenty of people do).

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Believe me, we would get it. Termination for cigarettes will not fly, as there will be huge lawsuits in return..

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Believe me, we would get it. Termination for cigarettes will not fly, as there will be huge lawsuits in return..

I don't think anyone here (or the original article) is talking about firing smokers, just about no longer hiring them.

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