Especialy in the winter time to all 3. It is a choice, just like being morbidly obese is.

 

Probably true. The smokers that I have worked with over the years, tend to take longer lunch breaks and very long "bathroom breaks". Smoking isn't allowed in our building, so many run to their cars 2-3 times a day. They also tend to have a lot of "bronchitis". That gets old day after day.

 

Morbidly obese (as opposed to just overweight) tend to move slower and more reluctantly than others. This is not bad if you have a desk job, but if your job requires being on your feet a lot that also gets old for co workers. They also tend to have more absences. due to knee problems, heart problems, diabetes, etc.

 

The role of the employer is to find the best possible person for the job. I don't think it is discrimination to avoid hiring either.

 

I know people that will not hire those with multiple tattoos and body piercings. That is probably closer to actual discrimination, but I don't think it is wrong either.

Because of the massive cost of health care to a business, more and more companies are taking health related issues into concideration when hiring people.

Because of the massive cost of health care to a business, more and more companies are taking health related issues into concideration when hiring people.

 

Yep, and they should.

Taller people tend to be more successful than short people. So, lets have a height cut off too.

Taller people tend to be more successful than short people. So, lets have a height cut off too.

 

If all else is equal which one are you hiring based on the above?

If all else is equal which one are you hiring based on the above?

 

The tall thin non-smoker...

I was hired by a company in 1976 that had a no smoking policy. If you smoked you would not be hired. Those who worked for the company prior to the new rule, were given a year to quit (company paid for any and all help to help you quit) but if in a year you were still smoking you were fired. It was not against the law as the company was an Ohio based business and smokers had no rights what so ever in that state.

Taller people tend to be more successful than short people. So, lets have a height cut off too.

 

Not an accurate analogy. Height has nothing to do with health habits. I doubt you could prove a difference in work performance either.

Best thing to do if you are a smoker and lose your job as a result is to go work for a competitor and do everything you reasonable can (and which is legal) to drive your former employer out of business.

 

Only an idiotic manager makes a carte blanche personnel decision based on tobacco use. I don't smoke but I've seen many a smoker outwork and outperform their non smoking counterparts. If a smoker isn't productive or misses too much work being sick or takes too long of breaks, fire him or her for that reason. that's what real managers do. Not the totally arbitrary reason that she or he is a smoker.

UAB Hospital will no longer hire tobacco users beginning sometime this year.

 

Good think all of those nurses smoking under the "smoking area" shelter are grandfathered in.

Best thing to do if you are a smoker and lose your job as a result is to go work for a competitor and do everything you reasonable can (and which is legal) to drive your former employer out of business.

 

Only an idiotic manager makes a carte blanche personnel decision based on tobacco use. I don't smoke but I've seen many a smoker outwork and outperform their non smoking counterparts. If a smoker isn't productive or misses too much work being sick or takes too long of breaks, fire him or her for that reason. that's what real managers do. Not the totally arbitrary reason that she or he is a smoker.

 

 

That is so true. And the reason I started this thread is I have a girl that works for me that applied for a position in Ohio with the same hospital. It is one of our outreach urgent care facilities that is expanding to a 22 bed ER. She's a great worker. Never calls off. You wouldn't even know she's a smoker. She never takes smoke breaks. She might sneak in a smoke at lunch time. When I found out she didn't even get an interview I inquired as to why she didn't, and was told by my supervisor it was due to her being a smoker. I didn't even realize that it was on the application. Now the hospital hired a girl outside the hospital. She is being trained in our ER for a couple weeks until the new facility is ready to open. Here's the problem. She smokes. She lied on the application. Now I don't know what kind of worker she is, but it's obvious she's not an honest person. So the hospital passed on an honest, hard working person that just happens to smoke, and hired one that has proven to me that she isn't honest. That is what you get when you discriminate against someone who smokes.

Of course it's discrimination, albeit a popular discrimination. Problem is where do you cut off on health/cost/performance issues? Lousy dental care leades to gum disease which can lead to a number of health issues, including heart disease. Do we not hire people who don't take care of their teeth? People in wheelchairs often require a lot of expensive health care. Do we not hire them? If you say it's not their fault, what about people speeding and injured in an accident winding up in a wheelchair? Since that was their fault is it now ok not to hire them? Just a couple examples of the slope we could start down.

Personally, if I have 2 equally qualified and seemingly adept candidates when I interview, and I don't ask if they smoke, it's not usually too difficult to tell, I'll hire the non-smoker. And I understand why a health care facility would do so. While I don't think for one second it would make one a better employee or not, I do think appearance and representation of the company is important. I don't buy the whole "it's a healthy lifestyle for the longevity of your employ" angle. That's a crock, especially where LRCW works, and he'll likely agree. They are loyal to none, cut you in a blink if it helps the bottom line. I can't imagine much truth in the "healthier employee lasts longer" if that's what they're claiming.

Not an accurate analogy. Height has nothing to do with health habits. I doubt you could prove a difference in work performance either.

 

There are plenty of studys that show that taller men are more successful than shorter men.

Imagine how many teeth I could have pulled if I were only taller.