Our rights are being taken away!?

Question

Okay, Ohio has passed the non-smoking law. Where we can't smoke in public places. I am a smoker who agrees that people shouldn't have to inhale my second hand smoke. That's not the problem. The problem is now companies are not going to hire you if you smoke. One of the big employer in the area will now test you for nicotine. If there is nicotine in your system they will not hire you. Cigarette smoking in not illegal. If this company can refuse to hire you because you smoke. Will they refuse to hire you because we weight to much. Then what next they will refuse to hire you because your too old? What's your opinion?

Donkey let me say I do smoke but only on my balcony. My children don't see me smoking. I don't have any other vices.
Are you a parent? If you are then i hope your don't drink or look at any porn. Cause after all your a role model.

Donkey, let me say I do smoke but only on my balcony. My children don't see me smoking. I don't have any other vices.
Are you a parent? If you are then i hope your don't drink or look at any porn. Cause after all your a role model or are you making yourself sick?

Answer 1

people are carrying things a bit too far I have a bumper sticker that says at least I can still smoke in my car!

Answer 2

I think that in some ways it should depend on the expectations of employment. For example, if you are expected to work for 8 continuous hours with no smoke breaks and you need your smoke break, then this could be a source of contention. Also, many companies who already screen for tobacco do so because they offer company health care and don't wish to pay for your self-inflicted health problems. Perhaps if you could waive your health benefits, then you should not be discriminated against for employment. If you are capable to fulfill your end of the terms of employment, your smoking should not matter.

I definitely understand your concern, because you should have the right to be a smoker. However, I would differentiate smoking from ageism since smoking is self-inflicted. Weight restrictions would be far more of a gray area in my opinion since there appears to be a certain amount of personal responsibility coupled with genetic inevitability.

I live in Ohio, and personally am a big fan of the ban on smoking and you seem to be a reasonable smoker who understands why the non-smokers are against second hand smoke. People of your good reason should have a way to maintain the habit if you wish. Best of luck with your job.

Answer 3

If I were to hire a worker and expected him to be strong & fast because the job requires it, then yes, I'd kick out any fatso and smoker, why not? I can refuse to hire an illiterate fool who spells "seperate" or "compatability" if I need a,,, well, an intelligent human at the workplace. So why not refuse smokers, drunks and junkies? It is an unhealthy thing, it bothers many, so quit - I did after 20+ years, no big deal - and I never complained for being banned out of restaurants or any other place. Your choice, smoking or working.

Answer 4

Smoking is not a "right." Rights are given to us in the constitution. It's a privilege & as such it can be taken away at anytime by anyone in authority.

The cost of health insurance is rising which means companies are bearing the brunt of it. So they want to keep the health costs down & they can do so by refusing to hire employees who smoke as it is known that smokers incur higher expenses.

Employers can't discriminate based on age once someone is on the job. But they can make their own rules re hiring. The obese also incur high medical expenses, e.g. diabetes, heart & strokes.

I smoked for 25 yrs & the last several years had high medical expenses - constant bronchitis, pulmonary function studies, lots of dr visits & medications & X-rays. Lots of medical bills I wouldn't have incurred otherwise.

The costs of smoking & obesity drives up the cost of health care (e.g. premiums) for everyone.

Answer 5

too old ? that's been going on for years and anti discrimination laws mean nothing ! Employers easily circumvent these laws like child's' play ! Forget about parties they're both owned by the inordinate rich ! If losing rights means having a diabolical thief in
your pocket then you are dead right!just look at wages and inflation . it's so far out of whack that a presupposed min.wage hike is defeated by higher prices before it even starts . Nothing is for free but who elected slight of hand as the panacea for the poor if the cost of living increases 20 times without relief and prices shoot sky high with the rich in control of course they don't care they already have pushed only the rich to to wages to overcompensate any inflation that only hurts the poor these economic sandwiches are the result of they most corrupt voting system in the world vote for the rich or vote for the rich!.

Answer 6

I have always believed that what I do on my own time is my own business. It seems to violate a privacy right. What is the company's rationale for doing this? Is it health insurance related? Even so, the employee pays the premium, so why should it matter? I think that this is becoming a lot more common and only time will tell.

Answer 7

okay donkey kon you have proved you are a jackass not donkey,
I do smoke but I also believe the gov, has to much say in our lives as I don't want them to take any more of my freedoms away . so I don't think the gov should have a say in who a co , can or can not hire.as it doe's in minority hiring, you see any time a law is made it always takes some freedom from some one,and I do think some people have gone to far with this smoking bit, our people are all trying to jump on the political correctness wagon

Answer 8

Wow. I'm a 70 year old, overweight smoker. I'm really in trouble.

Answer 9

It's a private company. ultimately they have the last say in how they hire. thats their rights not yours.

Answer 10

haha, i guess you better put the cancer stick down and be a role model"WONDERMOM" you make me sick