Company fires all employees who smoke!

[:) Smiley]

Now if our country wasn't so backwards, this wouldn't even be an issue because there'd be a national healthcare system.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't think increase in healthcare costs for smokers is the real reason for this, because they can charge smokers more in premiums in the context of a bone fide welfare program. Frankly, I'm not sure how much their healthcare premiums will go down as a result of this.

[Ming]

It will be a net loss because of lawyer fees... While your humble legal knowledge may indicate it will pass muster (which I still doubt), it will be expensive for them to prove you are right

[Imran Siddiqui]

While your humble legal knowledge may indicate it will pass muster (which I still doubt)

Oh, it will, believe me. I'm 100% certain it will. And I'm not sure how expensive it will be for them. It depends if they think they can actually reduce their premiums... or if they are fanatics about this.

[Ming]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Oh, it will, believe me. I'm 100% certain it will.

I'll wait for the courts to actually decide that one... this one has Supreme Court written all over it... and either way, it will be very expensive for the company to defend, even if they win

[ixnay]

Chief Financial Officer Gary Climes estimated that 18 to 20 of the company's 200 employers were smokers when the policy was announced in 2003. Of those, as many as 14 quit smoking before the policy went into effect. The company offered them help to kick the habit.

Since the employees have had more than a year to deal with this and the company has offered to help them, I have no sympathy for anyone who lost their job from this.

[Imran Siddiqui]

this one has Supreme Court written all over it.

Not a chance. They'll deny cert because it's obviously allowable. Frankly, if a lawyer brought a suit, if I was opposing council I'd file a Rule 11 sanction for frivilous lawsuit.

[Ming]

Again... you're welcome to your opinion... I'll wait to see what the courts say.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If it ever gets there. A lawyer has to take the case first.

[Ming]

Originally posted by ixnay
Since the employees have had more than a year to deal with this and the company has offered to help them, I have no sympathy for anyone who lost their job from this.

And if the people were gay, fat, had high blood preasure, whatever... how silly would your comment sound

[Ming]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
If it ever gets there. A lawyer has to take the case first.

They will be lining up to take it

[Asher]

Originally posted by Ming
And if the people were gay, fat, had high blood preasure, whatever... how silly would your comment sound

Would be just as relevant if they're not breaking any laws.

The private Christian university in the states openly refuses to hire homosexuals, for example. That's fine by me, it's a private organization in the states that allows that kind of thing.

Didn't the Boy Scouts win their case against excluding gays in their private organization already?

[Ming]

Frankly, I wouldn't have a problem with it if they were a clinic that specialized in stopping smoking or if the decision was being made for some type of performance reasons... but to pick on smoking because of "possible" higher payments on insurance claims, then they should be picking on fat people, gays, high blood preasure, or any other group where health problems "could" be higher. This is just BS. Nail all high risk groups or none... Over weight is a bigger health problem than smoking in the US

[St Leo]

This is absolutely unacceptable. My employer has no business knowing or caring about what I do in my spare time.

Fire and hire based on merit, not bull**** like smoking, gender, or race.

[Asher]

Originally posted by St Leo
This is absolutely unacceptable. My employer has no business knowing or caring about what I do in my spare time.

They do when they pay for your well-being.

I know I sure as hell hate knowing I'm paying tons of money to pay for the health care of morons who still smoke in Canada.

As far as I'm concerned, if you willingly make lifestyle choices knowing it massively increases your risks in health problems, you should pay more tax towards health care than others.