Employees Who Smoke in the Workplace
The Risks of Having these Employees on the Job
Many companies across the United States are making it more difficult for smokers to get jobs in the workplace. Those who smoke are having a hard time getting hired for jobs because of their habit. Secondly, those who choose to smoke may also risk losing their present job. Employers are viewing smoking employees as a risk to have in their work environment. There is an increased risk of accidents in the workplace, loss of productivity, and higher healthcare costs because of employees who smoke.
In the article, "Why Business Should Get Serious About Smoking," Howard Weyers states, "The fact is, federal and state laws prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of age, sex, race, weight, national origin, and other attributes ? and smoking is not a civil right. It's just a poor personal choice." Weyers believes this along with many others at Weyco, INC., a company, which started a policy, which promotes healthier lifestyles. Weyers points out that, "The CDC reports that smoking costs $75 billion a year in excess medical bills and $82 billion in lost productivity. In Michigan alone, tobacco kills 16,000 people annually ? more than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined." The goal of this program is to encourage employees to become healthier, and to increase their ability to accomplish more in their personal and professional lives. The author of this article also speaks about how employment is not a right, but it is something a person has to work and strive for. Therefore, if an employer does not want to hire someone because they smoke, they do not necessarily have to. ...