Smokers need not apply?

[RainMom]

So I've reached my 2 year mark & getting a little restless, toying with the idea of moving into a different dept or facility. I was looking at a website for another hospital & they have posted that they will no longer hire anyone that uses nicotine which will be screened for during the employment physical. Not an issue for me, but I found the bold underlined statement a little jarring. I understand that in healthcare we want to promote healthy lifestyles, but dictating personal legal habits to employees is a bit of a push don't you think? Is this common in other areas & just reaching my neck of the woods?

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

The "slippery slope" argument may or may not be valid, however I think the "right" to smoke is not going to be the key for winning the argument against employer interference in one's personal life.

[Argo]

I doubt that obesity will be linked since at a certain point your covered by the ADA and it would be a severe penalty for the facility to "discriminate" against an obese employee.

There are many places where the company wants to project a certain image. Neutral, clean cut, well groomed, etc. Certain jobs where the employee interfaces with the public have always had rules about things like visible tattoos and wild hair colors. That's just nothing new and hasn't developed as a matter of course from policies like not hiring smokers.

I think it's legitimate to worry that the obese may be next on the no hire list as the health costs associated with obesity are beginning to overtake the costs associated with smokers, perhaps because less people are smoking these days than in past generations, yet the obesity "epidemic" appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.

[Argo]

I agree with his person 100%

An EMPLOYER has the right to hire and fire anyone they want. To say you have a right to have a job covered head to toe in tattoos and 80 pounds overweight is insane. You have the right to be a fat land whale and to look like the lead singer of Social Distortion..this is true and the USA proves this every time I leave the house. However the hospital has the right (you know..the same way you have the right to eat whoppers all day) to not hire you or keep you. Get it???? The stupidity in this country is mind boggling.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The "slippery slope" argument may or may not be valid however I think the "right" to smoke is not going to be the key for winning the argument against employer interference in one's personal life.[/quote']

This...

With rights, comes responsibilities...I always wonder why some leave that part out when people speak about certain "rights"...ie, you can freedom of speech; but you CAN'T threaten to kill someone ; there's a law against that.

Something deemed "unhealthy" is a personal choice...when there is more parties involved when the act is taken place, then the "greater good" philosophy comes into play...and unfortunately, it may be to the discomfort of the individual engaging in the unhealthy behavior.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

It's already happening that hospitals won't hire obese employees

Victoria Hospital Won't Hire Very Obese Workers | The Texas Tribune

[ak2190]

I really dislike smoking, however I cannot help but see the hypocrisy of not hiring smokers but hiring those who abuse alcohol, food, or various other substances equally as likely to have bad health effects. The compromise would be to ban smoking on premises at all so that they aren't paying for 20 smoking breaks or exposing people to it.

Also, are people actually okay with banning smokers, overweight people, and whatever else they decide is unacceptable? "Cell phone addicts" comes to mind.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

There are many places where the company wants to project a certain image. Neutral, clean cut, well groomed, etc. Certain jobs where the employee interfaces with the public have always had rules about things like visible tattoos and wild hair colors. That's just nothing new and hasn't developed as a matter of course from policies like not hiring smokers.

I think it's legitimate to worry that the obese may be next on the no hire list as the health costs associated with obesity are beginning to overtake the costs associated with smokers, perhaps because less people are smoking these days than in past generations, yet the obesity "epidemic" appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.

It doesn't make it fair. Just because you (the collective you and not you you) aren't in the group being persecuted doesn't make it ok. Obesity like cancer will not be cured because the fake diet industry nd the pharmaceutical cure industry is BIG business.

An obese person loses 20 lbs in 3 months and no one notices....an alcoholic or drug addict hasn't had drink or shot up in 3 weeks and the get standing ovation. It makes me angry. But it is what it is....just if you are willing to allow persecution of someone or of some group and not speak up.... be prepared to eventually belong to one of those groups, or a new persecuted group, and realize there is no one who will speak up for you either.

It is just my opinion nothing more nothing less.

[jtmarcy12, BSN, RN]

I agree with you but again once they get rid of all the smokers, anyone who is bigger than a size 8 need not apply:no:.

[kcochrane]

I really dislike smoking, however I cannot help but see the hypocrisy of not hiring smokers but hiring those who abuse alcohol, food, or various other substances equally as likely to have bad health effects. The compromise would be to ban smoking on premises at all so that they aren't paying for 20 smoking breaks or exposing people to it.

Also, are people actually okay with banning smokers, overweight people, and whatever else they decide is unacceptable? "Cell phone addicts" comes to mind.

As a former smoker, I'm with you. Ban smoking at work and cut down on the breaks. Most hospitals here are smoke free. Doesn't mean people don't off campus or in their cars, but it is harder and not easy on a 15 minute break. We don't allow those that abuse alcohol to show up to work drunk or take a break to "drink". Nothing you can do about people that abuse food. All in all anyone that is taking multiple breaks at the expense of others needs to be disciplined.

We should as nurses try to stay as healthy as possible in order to be an example to our patients. I had quit smoking years before I became a nurse, so that was never an issue. But I lost over 60 pounds and now run. And I'm 50. So anyone at any age can start to be healthy.

My favorite is seeing RTs smoking. Ugh!

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

But there is something that can be done. You maybe can't control the QUANTITY of food being eaten...BUT... go take a look at the vending machines in your facility. Or the cafeteria menu. Or worse, I can't count the number of times I've seen or heard mention of pizza parties or gift cards to McDonald's as rewards from healthcare employers.

I mean, if you want to make your facility smoke free, that's fine. But seriously, take the fried chicken off of your menu.

[ePerfect]

Do a search here on allnurses.com - it's been discussed quite a bit. And yes, it is becoming quite popular.

As is a mandated flu vaccine. Personally, I don't have issues with either one of those things, but both of them certainly get people up in arms.

I say, if you don't want to work for someone who mandates those things, don't apply there.

Mandated flu vaccines and smoking are not comparable. Flu vaccines are to prevent the spread of the flu to the residents and other staff. My smoking off campus does not affect my patients or other staff.

[uRNmyway, ASN, RN]

Mandated flu vaccines and smoking are not comparable. Flu vaccines are to prevent the spread of the flu to the residents and other staff. My smoking off campus does not affect my patients or other staff.

It can. I have a colleague who smokes off campus. When she gets on the floor, I know she's there just because of the tobacco smell. She swears no one can tell she's a smoker. Believe me, we can. And I told her so. I was polite about it, but when she mentioned that she smokes and no-one can tell, I apologized and told her we really can.