6 replies to this topic

[Michelle]

http://abcnews.go.co...tory?id=9629201


One Tennessee hospital is sending a very clear message to its future employees: if you smoke, you are not wanted here.


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Ohio hospital begins smoke-free hiring policy, to include nicotine tests.Beginning Feb. 1, Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., will no longer hire new employees who use any type of tobacco products.

According to a statement on the hospital's Web site, anyone offered a job with the hospital will be required to test fornicotine use, in addition to the previously administered drug test.

The statement, which is located under the career section of the hospital's Web site, reads in part:

"… effective February 1, 2010, Memorial Health Care System will no longer hire individuals who use tobacco or nicotine products in any form. Memorial Health Care System and its affiliates recognize the major importance of associates' health and well being, and the responsibility of maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all associates, volunteers, patients and visitors. " (Click here for the full statement:)  

The off-hours ban the hospital is imposing on employees is not unique -- and a dismissal -- if the rule is ignored by an employee -- would not be, either.

Some companies have even stricter smoking rules.

In 2005, Weyco Inc. a Michigan-based administrator of corporate benefit plans, banned all employees, current and future, from smoking anywhere, anytime -- even at home. Four employees who failed random nicotine tests were fired, including Anita Epolito who told "60 Minutes," "I am not the poster child for nicotine here. This is about privacy. This is about what you do on your own time, that is legal, that does not conflict with your job performance."

Wayne Jeffrey was a police officer for seven years in Fall River, Mass., before he was dismissed in 2003 for smoking while off-duty.

A 1988 Massachusetts law forbade smoking by public safety officers, part of a deal to ensure people filing for disability could only cite work-related health issues. While police officers did sign a statement saying they would not smoke -- even when not on duty -- Jeffrey said many others on the force also signed it and continued to smoke.

Also, he said, officers hired before that time were grandfathered into the system, so he could smoke with another officer who could later turn him in -- which Jeffrey says is ultimately what happened to him.

[Paranormalcy]

While I'm very much against smoking, this is pretty surprising and even I have to say I think it sounds totalitarian, even draconian.  I understand banning smoking from inside and even outside a facility, the Indian hospital in my state bans it even in the parking lot, like anywhere on the property itself, by anyone, though I'm almost certain there are still those smokers' kiosks around the back for employees.

But the point is, if it comes down from the government or health departments or something that companies can't make smokeables anymore because of health concerns - THEN they are fully illegal and you technically can't even do it in your own house, and they would essentially be illicit drugs, and I could see a "nicotine" test failure being grounds for firing.  

But as it stands, as noted, they ARE legal, at least to own and use in a non-regulated environment, and as long as they're not being used where prohibited, on the job, I absolutely cannot see how this can stand.  I don't know the legality and ability to discriminate that employers have though; could they also ban nearly-equally legal cheese products, and so if a worker ever can be proven to have eaten cheese, they can be fired (presumably because of people stopping up the toilets, I dunno)?  It seems like you go to work, you go home, you leave work at work, home at home - you can't enforce your home law that everybody does dishes, at work, I'm not clear on how they can decide what you do in your off-time, if it isn't interfering with anything.

But I think all these products should be illegal to manufacture or buy or sell, but that's my opinion and not law and the most I can do is ask others to respect my wishes in my house - this whole job legislating personal behavior smacks of something ominous to me.

[acidhead]

Quote

http://www.memorial....and_values.html

Our Mission
The mission of Memorial Health Care System and Catholic Health Initiatives is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church by bringing it new life, energy and viability in the 21st century. Fidelity to the Gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we move toward the creation of healthier communities.

Our Values
We are guided by our Mission and Core Values of Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence.

Reverence - A profound spirit of awe and respect for all of creation, shaping our relationship to self, one another and to God, and acknowledging that we hold in trust all that has been given to us.
Integrity - Moral wholeness, soundness, uprightness, honesty and sincerity as the basis of trustworthiness.
Compassion - Feeling with others, being one with others in their sorrows and joy, rooted in the sense of solidarity as members of the human community. It is the heartfelt concern for the needs of others that compels us to respond. Compassion makes a difference you can feel.
Excellence - Outstanding achievement, merit and virtue, continually surpassing standards to achieve and maintain quality.

Religious people ALWAYS respect, protect and guarantee freedom of choice for all creation.

[acidhead]

And the sign says, "Long-haired freaky people
Need not apply."
So I tucked my hair up under my hat
And I went in to ask him why
He said, "You look like a fine outstanding young man
I think you'll do."
So I took off my hat, I said, "Imagine that!
Huh, me workin' for you!"
Ooh

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
****in' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

And the sign says, "Anybody caught trespassing
Will be shot on sight."
So I jumped the fence and I yelled at the house, "Hey!
What gives you the right
To put up a fence to keep me out
Or to keep Mother Nature in?
If God was here, He'd tell it to your face,
'Man, you're some kind of sinner!'"

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
****in' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

Oh!

Oh say now, mister, can't you read?
You got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can't watch, no, you can't eat
You ain't supposed to be here

And the sign says, "You got to have a membership card
To get inside."
Huh!

The sign says, "Everybody welcome
Come in, and kneel down and pray."
But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn't have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper
And I made up my own ****in' sign
I said, "Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me
I'm alive and doin' fine."
Ooh

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
****in' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign
****in' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

[The Silver Thong]

Maybe the hospital should ban fat people as that is now far worse than smoking. If your fat, get lost we don't want to help you or employ you.

[Cadetak]

I can fully understanding banning smoking in and out the hospital and even the parking lot or a general rule of "No smoking at work" but to require what boils down to drug tests?

[The Silver Thong]

Cadetak, on 24 January 2010 - 03:02 PM, said:

I can fully understanding banning smoking in and out the hospital and even the parking lot or a general rule of "No smoking at work" but to require what boils down to drug tests?

I think that smokers that work at hospitals and such understand those rules and will abide by them but to fire or refuse to hire a smoker reaks of law suits. How about banning people with aids from hospitals or any contagious desease.  Smoking is not contagious nor does it hurt others if smoking is banned on the property. Is this law stating that smokers in general are no longer employable?

What if one said we can't hire you because you drive a gas pig? Same thing really.

Edited by Not the 1, 24 January 2010 - 05:01 PM.