Company fires 7 for smoking outside of work...

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by chacal

So, it is ok to fire a woman because she is pregnant? Or a father because he has a sick son and couldn't go to work for a couple of days?

The part about the father would be covered under the FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). I am somewhat versed in this piece of legislation as I had to use it after my son was born handicapped. There were times when he was ill and I had to take time off from work to take care of him. This piece of legislation is important because it has saved many people's jobs during a time in their lives where they needed time off to care for a sick family member.

[fredjacksonsan]

Originally Posted by Sluttypatton

Now, other than the fact that everyone just knows that smoking costs the country money, do you have any sources to prove it...any at all? I'm not saying that I don't believe it to be true, but when I think about it, I have never seen any proof of this...it just seems to be a generally accepted fact for no reason whatsoever.

Here you go:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1054286.st

http://ash.org/papers/h100.htm

Several articles here:
http://dmoz.org/Society/Issues/Healt...onomic_Impact/

http://yalenewhavenhealth.org/Health.../hnf051302.htm


And there were a whole lot more sites. I think it's ridiculous that the one article you suggested said that smokers died early so saved the country 32 cents per pack smoked.

[chacal]

Originally Posted by RickwithaTbird

Your job is a priviledge.

No it is not. Nobody gives you a job to be nice to you. You give your work, the company pays you. It is a fair trade - or it should be. A job is not charity.

I wasn't comparing smoking and pregnancy. The main point was the quote "Hey, business is business". If you think business and profit are a good reason for everything, you must agree it is a good reason to fire a pregnant woman. Let me say very clearly, before you hang me: I DO NOT AGREE!

[HighRev87]

I agree a job is not a priviledge. As a smoker myself, I find it crazy that this new way of laying off employees is coming to term.

I have a right in this country to goto a store, buy a pack of smokes, and smoke them as I see fit. Even if the company banned smoking at the workplace, they in no way should be able to fire someone for smoking outside of the workplace.

Common sense people. Freedom cant be torn apart, eventually it will crumble.

[speediva]

You all seem to forget that you sign a legal, binding contract when you get a job at a major corporation such as the one in question. It often states that you can be fired for failing to pass drug tests. It just happens to be that the drug they were testing for was nicotine. I'm a former smoker (never became "addicted" so I quit), so don't go telling me that I hate smokers and other such nonsense. If the company decided that it wanted to regulate nicotine use through drug testing, it has that right if so stated in the employee contract. Tough luck, but them's the breaks.

[chacal]

Originally Posted by saturntangerine

...if so stated in the employee contract.

Was it stated in the contract? As far as we know, it wasn't.

[speediva]

Originally Posted by chacal

Was it stated in the contract? As far as we know, it wasn't.

You honestly mean to tell me that you doubt the company would put a drug testing policy in their contract??? It may not specifically say what substances they test for, thus not specifically mention nicotine, but I honestly doubt that a corporation would neglect to require employees to sign a contract saying they can be terminated if "undesirable" substances were found during routine drug screenings.

[HighRev87]

Drinks can also be found in drug tests withen 1-2 days. If alcohol is found (and you are legal) should a company fire you?
Caffiene is as much a drug as nicotine....drink coffee lose your job?
Advil relieves my headaches, that relief will cost me my job?
Dynatap makes my nose stop being stuffed up, too bad they fired me for using it...

I can keep going on, fact is drugs are in our society, and as long as they are legal they should not be worthy of job temination.

[RickwithaTbird]

Dimetapp <- is a "health" drug.. a medicine. Advil is a medicine. Nicotine is not caffeine. Caffeine is found in soda, coffee, lots of things... things that are not a smoked drug. And cigarettes kill 1200 people every day. Where are the numbers on caffeine? We are talking about a drug that you choose to smoke, (not because you have a sore back, so don't compare it to advil) despite the obvious health concerns. If you were taking 5 advils every hour, then yeah, they should fire you, but lets not be ridiculous.

About drinking.... If you are an alcoholic, and you drink every day, beer with dinner, beer after dinner, a couple beers before bed, beer at lunch, beers after work... then a company should be allowed to fire you if you do not seek help. But only if they offer you programs, and ample time to solve your issues, before the actual termination. Now, going out every once in a while and having some drinks with your friends, is not comparable to smoking cigarettes every day. I agree, that if you went out on a Saturday night and got drunk with some friends, and got fired on Monday because they drug tested you and found alcohol... that would be F'd up. But I don't agree that it is wrong to fire cigarette smokers when they are given a year and a half notice to quit, or find a new job.

And yes, your job is a priviledge. You don't have a right to your job. Don't agree? Ask your boss.

[HighRev87]

Originally Posted by RickwithaTbird

And yes, your job is a priviledge. You don't have a right to your job. Don't agree? Ask your boss.

Dont agree with me? Ask a Equal Oppertunity Employer Attorney... If you are qualified for a job, you have a RIGHT to work there.

This thread is really full of ignorance...even on my part. Smokers will say this law is dumb, while non-smokers will say it is great. Personally smokers need to stop being under attack. Soon our houses are going to be the only place we can smoke. When a substance is legal, it should be accepted.

Also...just some food for thought.....
Could a company fire you for being HIV positive? Technicly, although not drug related, you made a life decision to have sex with a person you obviously didnt know to well w/o a condom....dont think that life will be cut short? THink again.... Dont think it will cost the insurance company alot more money.... Think Again.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by HighRev87

Also...just some food for thought.....
Could a company fire you for being HIV positive? Technicly, although not drug related, you made a life decision to have sex with a person you obviously didnt know to well w/o a condom....dont think that life will be cut short? THink again.... Dont think it will cost the insurance company alot more money.... Think Again.

You don't neccessarily have to have unprotected sex to get HIV. You can also get it by blood transfusions,sharing dirty needles, and there is research going on to determine if there are other ways of becoming infected,(i.e. mosquito bites.)

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by RickwithaTbird

Dimetapp <- is a "health" drug.. a medicine. Advil is a medicine. Nicotine is not caffeine. Caffeine is found in soda, coffee, lots of things... things that are not a smoked drug.

What about workers who abuse over the counter cold remedies? Yeah, they may be a "health drug" but some people are abusing these or certain ingredients in these medicines. They can possess a risk in the workplace, endangering other employees when they come to work "high". In my area, the problem is so bad that some stores have resticted the sale of over the counter cold medicines to those over 18 years of age. And some have even gone so far as to restrict the sale to no more than 2 medicines at a time to a buyer. I don't really think that this is a deterrant, it will just slow some of the people down from acquiring the meds they need to get high, those that are determined will always find a way.

[chacal]

Originally Posted by RickwithaTbird

And yes, your job is a priviledge. You don't have a right to your job. Don't agree? Ask your boss.

No, I don't agree. Nobody can agree with that. A job is an exchange. The boss hires you and pays you for your work. Money for work. You must work, the boss must pay you and provide you with the means to do your work. Period. No priviledge here.

Everybody's got the right to a job. Don't believe? See human rights.

If your boss thinks it is a priviledge to work for him, take my advice: find another job. Fast.

[WickedNYCowboy]

That is KIND OF rediculous. But I fired someone cause they were smoking when I worked for my friend. I allowed them to smoke on the property but if they went off w/our name on them with a truck to go somewhere for work it was not allowed. Fired a couple guys for be incredibly drunk. It does reflect on the company.

[HighRev87]

I seriously dont think these fire-ings will hold out past court. If I got fired for smoking, Id find a lawyer. Hello settlement.