WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON-

[williamlayton]

The recent round of firings by companies of folks that smoke and will not stop?
This has been in the news, of recent, and includes the thought that these companies are trying to reduce the health care cost of the company.
Blessings

[MGMorden]

Mixed feelings here.  In one way I very much feel that it's not the company's business to tell their employees what they can do on their off time.

On the other hand, smoking is an incredibly unhealthy habit (I will admit that I'm biased on this since my grandmother died of lung cancer when I was 7).  I can understand that some people are addicted and it can be hard to kick it.  This is especially unfortunate for some of the older people who started before the health risks were known.  These days it takes an idiot to actually start smoking though.  

All in all, as per usual my opinion is that I'm against government (or employer) regulation of individual activities.  I would hope though that before long the population will wake up to the reality that they're sucking on a slow poison.

[myronman3]

although i dislike lawsuits...
   i hope the ex-employees sue the hell out of them.  i can not imagine they would not win.   the company is also going after their employees that are overweight.   what is next?  diagnosed with cancer?  fired!  sickle celled anemia?  fired!  diabetic? fired!
    it is a slippery slope and once we start down it,  it is downhill fast.   the morn that thought this one up is a  fasicist moron.

[williamlayton]

REPUBLICAN ?
Blessings

[myronman3]

REPUBLICAN ?
Blessings

whatever, whoever.  it doesnt matter.   i dont think many republicans would back this fool;  i know i dont.

[magooch]

Everyone is going to die of something.  Statistically, smokers die at a younger age than non-smokers.  Thus, they will draw less retirement and possibly accrue less medical expenses than those who linger into very old age.  I really doubt that smokers are any more of a burden to employers than any other habit-identifiable group.

I've never smoked and I never will, but I believe in freedom--even the freedom to self-destruct.

[Nightrain52]

I don't really agree with it but if the company has a drug policy in effect it could fall under this category because nicotine is an addictive drug. Most companies with a drug policy offer the employees programs to quit and if they don't quit they are gone. As I understand it this company offered the employees a smoking cessation program and several did the program and kicked the habit and still have their jobs. Although we may not like it and it is a very gray area they are within their rights to dismiss an employee for drug use.  

[williamlayton]

Well, first off, I do smoke. So now that is otta tha way.
This post was not about me defending my continuing bad habit. It just struck me, as a way of control of people by others that feel if they can't control bad things are gonna happen. That, and well, my fear that we are facing a monster that once was dead but seems to be raising its ugly head again.
Days gone by, there was not a middle class, even those that considered themselves middleclass used that as an excuse to put theirownselves on a higher plateau than the mill worker, the gin worker or who ever but they could not ever be seen as upper class. The upperclass was a social order unto itself and all the rest of us were lower class.
It seems to me me to be all about control and greed.
Blessings

[Loader 3009]

This reminds me of the old feller sitting on a park bench and enjoying Camel.  A young Klempson grad sits down beside him and observes for a few minutes.  He then says, "Dem things gonna kill ya', ol' man".

The old feller stares at him for a second and says, "My Daddy died at 92 years of age."

Klempson says, "Did he smoke?"

Old feller says, "Nope.... he minded his own business."

[williamlayton]

YUK YUKYUK :agree:  :agree:  :toast:  
Blessings

[FWiedner]

Smoking is a voluntary behavior with long-term health afflictions and consequences that cost heatlh insurance companies and their customers hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

What is amounts to is people deliberately doing something that they know is harmful to their health, and potentially to those around them and then expecting someone else, or everyone else, to pick up the tab when the mess needs to be cleaned up.

To me, if Health Insurance companies would stop insuring smokers, or employers would stop insuring smokers, then those smokers would be more able to fully enjoy the benefits of their choces, without forcing non-smokers to pay thier way through the Cardio-Pulmonary Respiratory health care system to the grave.

Let the Tobacco industry pick up the slack.

I don't think that it's right for companies to fire or to refuse to hire smokers, but I don't have a problem with them refusing to insure them for smoking related illnesses, or with them telling them that they can't smoke on company property.

[MGMorden]

This reminds me of the old feller sitting on a park bench and enjoying Camel.  A young Klempson grad sits down beside him and observes for a few minutes.  He then says, "Dem things gonna kill ya', ol' man".

The old feller stares at him for a second and says, "My Daddy died at 92 years of age."

Klempson says, "Did he smoke?"

Old feller says, "Nope.... he minded his own business."

In one way I very much feel that it's not the company's business to tell their employees what they can do on their off time.

Guess not all graduates of Clemson (notice the lack of a p.  You can't even get an incorrect spelling correct :roll:)) acted as the one in your example did.  

I advocate letting people make their own choices (a viewpoint I made clear in my post).  Some choices are bad for them though and it would be beneficial if they realized that (my grandmother didn't and died at 52).  Letting them know the risks isn't the same thing as making them stop.

Or you could just not say anything next time someone looks down the barrel of a loaded weapon.  Afterall, it's not your business.

[Loader 3009]

YUK YUKYUK :agree:  :agree:  :toast:  
Blessings

Glad you liked that one William.  I thought it was appropriate. :-D

[williamlayton]

Well we have gone off chasing that rabbit far enough and I have been properly chastised (anybody got a light?), so lets get back on tha trail agin.
We all do things that sumbody else is gonna dsilike, fear, wanta change in us, control in us. I been chastised for bein stupdid for livin here on the ship channel of Houston fer 40 year, eatin white bread, eatin too much white bread, eatin too much red meat, eatin too much. Let's see, what else has tha Hen said to me TODAY.
Folks it aint about what somebody is scared for about us about, it is the bottom line and control, they is concerned about. There is plenty of ways I am gonna die, plenty of things I can get sick from, but I doan see em offerin a REward fer not doin em, when I die.
Blessings