Building entry 'Template Tweeking' failed: Parse error in template 'Individual Entry Archive': Mad Mikey's Blog
Another MuNu Blog

Groups and Such

Put Groups and such that you belong to here

MuNuviana

Licensing

Powered By

Powered by
Movable Type 2.64

January 25, 2005

Do This.....or Else!

Company Fires All Employees Who Smoke

Michigan Firm Won't Allow Smoking, Even On Employee's Own Time

LANSING, Mich. -- Four employees of a health care company have been fired for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes.

Weyco Inc., a health benefits administrator based in Okemos, Mich., adopted a policy Jan. 1 that allows employees to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking happens after business hours or at home.

Company founder Howard Weyers has said the anti-smoking rule was designed to shield the firm from high health care costs. "I don't want to pay for the results of smoking," he said.

The rule led one employee to quit before the policy was adopted. Four others were fired when they balked at the smoking test.

Chief Financial Officer Gary Climes estimated that 18 to 20 of the company's 200 employers were smokers when the policy was announced in 2003. Of those, as many as 14 quit smoking before the policy went into effect. The company offered them help to kick the habit.

"That is absolutely a victory," Climes said.

On the company's Web site, it states:

Weyco Inc. is a non-smoking company that strongly supports its employees in living healthy lifestyles.
But downing a quart of Jack Daniel's on your off-time is okey-dokey? And going to a gay porno theater and getting slammed by a complete stranger is fine with company executives??

Oh please - spare us the 'we're doing this for your own good' crap.

Even though I quit smoking back in late-October to get on the transplant list, this kind of crap still irritates me.

Personally if I had been in this position and was faced with either quitting smoking or being fired, I'd probably tell them to go pound sand and make them fire me. With very few exceptions, I do not take do this....or else threats lightly.

If a company is going to dictate what you do in your off-time with this one little thing, what is to stop them from telling you how to cook your food, or how to raise your children, or how you should vote.

All it takes is one thing that leads to another, which leads to another, etc, etc.

It's a 'slippery-slope' that I'd prefer to not get pushed onto.....


|| , 08:17 AM || Permalink || Comments (7) || Add your comment

Comments on Do This.....or Else!

I was talking to a guy who works for one of the NY State "cachement area" rehabs a few weeks ago. He was telling me that NY State is either considering or has passed a ban on smoking for NY State employees where you can't smoke an hour before you come to work, and that an employee that comes to work smelling like smoke can be sent home to change their stinky clothes. Some shit, eh?

|| Posted by scroff, January 25, 2005 08:58 AM ||

Neil Boortz seems to be all in favor of this.

"Generally speaking, smokers simply aren't as productive in the workplace as are non-smokers. They take more frequent breaks (to do drugs,) and they're absent from work more often due to illness.

And ... to cap it all off ... smokers just aren't all that bright. In repeated trials smokers have scored lower on intelligence tests than non-smokers. Smoking, then, is an excellent way for you to get an immediate indication of who has common sense, and who doesn't."

I think Neil doesn't go far enough - I present the following "modest proposal" for smokers:

1. Require they be segregated into "smoker-only" companies. Ban them from employment in "smoker-free" companies.

2. To protect non-smokers from the smell, require smokers to wear a patch on their clothes to identify them before they get within smelling range.

3. Require smokers to live in private houses, away from non-smokers. Provide mandatory living accomodations (smokers only) for smokers that cannot afford private housing.

4. Ban smokers from marring, or having sex with, non-smokers.

5. Make it illegal to smoke tobacco products of any kind.

Yup. That should do it. [/sarcasm]

|| Posted by Scott, January 25, 2005 09:41 AM ||

What a load of crap... These folks should have a pretty good court case to challenge their dismisals. Yes, it is a slippery slope.. Colorado is a right to work state, but companies here don't have the right ti fire someone because he smokes...
Talk about an invasion of privacy. People (Liberals) are worried about the evil US Government infringing on their civil liberties, and here you have some company doing it, and people (Liberals) are rejoicing and singing the company's praises?

|| Posted by Tetzman, January 25, 2005 02:54 PM ||

Hey Jim - glad you found my little slice of Heaven here on the (evil, military) Internet!!

|| Posted by Mad Mikey, January 25, 2005 03:29 PM ||

Hey Tetzman..I'm a liberal, and I'm, sure as shit, not rejoicing about this load of bullshit.

|| Posted by ruthie, January 26, 2005 06:46 AM ||

I've gotta disagree. And I'm a smoker.

This is a private company making what it sees as a sound business decision. IMO, similar to certain companies restricting what they see as dangerous activities (sky diving, scuba diving, etc). The NFL has had a ban on pro football players participating in off-season basketball leagues because of the injuries they incur.

This is very different from Nanny legislating No Smoking in a business.

And they didn't say it was primarily, "for their own good". It was for lower health care costs. I hope they've analyzed the potential increased difficulties they'll have retaining and recruiting employees. I know I'd never work for a company that tried to tell me how to live my life.

But they have the right to make that decision.

|| Posted by The Other Mike S, January 27, 2005 08:21 AM ||

Actually, after some consideration, I have to 'flip-flop' a bit.

I think it's one thing for the state to make this kind of rule, as here in NY, but if I own a company I should be able to choose who I want working for me. If I own a construction company and I don't want to work with people who drink, smoke, whatever, that's my right as a business owner. If I don't want to deal with smokers, I don't have to hire them, just like if I'm a landlord I don't have to rent to smokers or pet owners.
Interesting...

|| Posted by scroff, January 29, 2005 10:48 AM ||

Administrative Stuff

Put administrative stuff like how to email you, comment policies, RSS feeds, etc. here.

Search This Site


About Me

Whatever you want to say about you. I link my first post, and a couple of other posts that are about me here.

Recent Entries

Still Here!!
New Moon Tonight
Creaping Time
Govt Healthcare PSA
Little Willy?

Recent Comments

scroff said:

Actually, after some consideration, I have to 'flip-flop' a bit.

I think it's one thing f Read more in Do This.....or Else!
The Other Mike S said:

I've gotta disagree. And I'm a smoker.

This is a private company making what it sees as Read more in Do This.....or Else!
ruthie said:

Hey Tetzman..I'm a liberal, and I'm, sure as shit, not rejoicing about this load of bullshit.

Read more in Do This.....or Else!
Mad Mikey said:

Hey Jim - glad you found my little slice of Heaven here on the (evil, military) Internet!!

Read more in Do This.....or Else!
Tetzman said:

What a load of crap... These folks should have a pretty good court case to challenge their dismis Read more in Do This.....or Else!
Scott said:

Neil Boortz seems to be all in favor of this.

"Generally speaking, smokers simply aren't Read more in Do This.....or Else!

Blogroll

Put your blogroll here

Web Links

Put links to non-blogger stuff here

Counters and stuff

Total Entries: 1159
Total Comments: 3761
Comments/Entry: 3.25
Put your counter here
Get Firefox!

Archives

February 07, 2010 - February 13, 2010
November 15, 2009 - November 21, 2009
October 18, 2009 - October 24, 2009
October 11, 2009 - October 17, 2009
October 04, 2009 - October 10, 2009
September 27, 2009 - October 03, 2009
August 23, 2009 - August 29, 2009
July 26, 2009 - August 01, 2009
June 07, 2009 - June 13, 2009
May 10, 2009 - May 16, 2009
May 03, 2009 - May 09, 2009
April 26, 2009 - May 02, 2009
April 12, 2009 - April 18, 2009
March 29, 2009 - April 04, 2009
March 22, 2009 - March 28, 2009
February 08, 2009 - February 14, 2009
January 11, 2009 - January 17, 2009
November 02, 2008 - November 08, 2008
September 28, 2008 - October 04, 2008
September 14, 2008 - September 20, 2008
September 07, 2008 - September 13, 2008
August 17, 2008 - August 23, 2008
August 10, 2008 - August 16, 2008
July 13, 2008 - July 19, 2008
June 22, 2008 - June 28, 2008
June 08, 2008 - June 14, 2008
June 01, 2008 - June 07, 2008
May 11, 2008 - May 17, 2008
March 30, 2008 - April 05, 2008
March 23, 2008 - March 29, 2008
March 16, 2008 - March 22, 2008
March 09, 2008 - March 15, 2008
February 17, 2008 - February 23, 2008
February 10, 2008 - February 16, 2008
February 03, 2008 - February 09, 2008
January 27, 2008 - February 02, 2008
January 20, 2008 - January 26, 2008
January 13, 2008 - January 19, 2008
December 30, 2007 - January 05, 2008
December 23, 2007 - December 29, 2007
December 16, 2007 - December 22, 2007
December 09, 2007 - December 15, 2007
December 02, 2007 - December 08, 2007
November 18, 2007 - November 24, 2007
November 11, 2007 - November 17, 2007
October 21, 2007 - October 27, 2007
October 07, 2007 - October 13, 2007
September 30, 2007 - October 06, 2007
September 23, 2007 - September 29, 2007
September 16, 2007 - September 22, 2007
September 09, 2007 - September 15, 2007
September 02, 2007 - September 08, 2007
August 26, 2007 - September 01, 2007
August 19, 2007 - August 25, 2007
August 12, 2007 - August 18, 2007
August 05, 2007 - August 11, 2007
July 29, 2007 - August 04, 2007
July 22, 2007 - July 28, 2007
July 08, 2007 - July 14, 2007
July 01, 2007 - July 07, 2007
June 24, 2007 - June 30, 2007
June 10, 2007 - June 16, 2007
June 03, 2007 - June 09, 2007
May 27, 2007 - June 02, 2007
May 20, 2007 - May 26, 2007
May 13, 2007 - May 19, 2007
May 06, 2007 - May 12, 2007
April 29, 2007 - May 05, 2007
April 22, 2007 - April 28, 2007
April 15, 2007 - April 21, 2007
April 08, 2007 - April 14, 2007
April 01, 2007 - April 07, 2007
March 25, 2007 - March 31, 2007
March 18, 2007 - March 24, 2007
March 04, 2007 - March 10, 2007
February 18, 2007 - February 24, 2007
February 04, 2007 - February 10, 2007
January 28, 2007 - February 03, 2007
January 21, 2007 - January 27, 2007
January 14, 2007 - January 20, 2007
January 07, 2007 - January 13, 2007
December 31, 2006 - January 06, 2007
December 17, 2006 - December 23, 2006
December 10, 2006 - December 16, 2006
November 26, 2006 - December 02, 2006
November 19, 2006 - November 25, 2006
November 05, 2006 - November 11, 2006
October 29, 2006 - November 04, 2006
October 22, 2006 - October 28, 2006
October 15, 2006 - October 21, 2006
October 08, 2006 - October 14, 2006
October 01, 2006 - October 07, 2006
September 24, 2006 - September 30, 2006
September 03, 2006 - September 09, 2006
August 27, 2006 - September 02, 2006
August 20, 2006 - August 26, 2006
August 13, 2006 - August 19, 2006
August 06, 2006 - August 12, 2006
July 30, 2006 - August 05, 2006
July 23, 2006 - July 29, 2006
July 16, 2006 - July 22, 2006
July 09, 2006 - July 15, 2006
July 02, 2006 - July 08, 2006
June 25, 2006 - July 01, 2006
June 18, 2006 - June 24, 2006
June 11, 2006 - June 17, 2006
June 04, 2006 - June 10, 2006
May 28, 2006 - June 03, 2006
May 21, 2006 - May 27, 2006
May 14, 2006 - May 20, 2006
May 07, 2006 - May 13, 2006
April 30, 2006 - May 06, 2006
April 23, 2006 - April 29, 2006
April 16, 2006 - April 22, 2006
April 09, 2006 - April 15, 2006
April 02, 2006 - April 08, 2006
March 26, 2006 - April 01, 2006
March 19, 2006 - March 25, 2006
March 12, 2006 - March 18, 2006
March 05, 2006 - March 11, 2006
February 26, 2006 - March 04, 2006
February 19, 2006 - February 25, 2006
February 12, 2006 - February 18, 2006
February 05, 2006 - February 11, 2006
January 29, 2006 - February 04, 2006
January 22, 2006 - January 28, 2006
January 15, 2006 - January 21, 2006
January 08, 2006 - January 14, 2006
January 01, 2006 - January 07, 2006
December 25, 2005 - December 31, 2005
December 18, 2005 - December 24, 2005
December 11, 2005 - December 17, 2005
December 04, 2005 - December 10, 2005
November 27, 2005 - December 03, 2005
November 20, 2005 - November 26, 2005
November 13, 2005 - November 19, 2005
November 06, 2005 - November 12, 2005
October 30, 2005 - November 05, 2005
October 23, 2005 - October 29, 2005
October 16, 2005 - October 22, 2005
October 09, 2005 - October 15, 2005
October 02, 2005 - October 08, 2005
September 25, 2005 - October 01, 2005
September 18, 2005 - September 24, 2005
September 11, 2005 - September 17, 2005
September 04, 2005 - September 10, 2005
August 28, 2005 - September 03, 2005
August 21, 2005 - August 27, 2005
August 14, 2005 - August 20, 2005
August 07, 2005 - August 13, 2005
July 31, 2005 - August 06, 2005
July 24, 2005 - July 30, 2005
July 17, 2005 - July 23, 2005
July 10, 2005 - July 16, 2005
July 03, 2005 - July 09, 2005
June 26, 2005 - July 02, 2005
June 19, 2005 - June 25, 2005
June 12, 2005 - June 18, 2005
June 05, 2005 - June 11, 2005
May 29, 2005 - June 04, 2005
May 22, 2005 - May 28, 2005
May 15, 2005 - May 21, 2005
May 08, 2005 - May 14, 2005
May 01, 2005 - May 07, 2005
April 24, 2005 - April 30, 2005
April 17, 2005 - April 23, 2005
April 10, 2005 - April 16, 2005
April 03, 2005 - April 09, 2005
March 27, 2005 - April 02, 2005
March 20, 2005 - March 26, 2005
March 13, 2005 - March 19, 2005
March 06, 2005 - March 12, 2005
February 27, 2005 - March 05, 2005
February 20, 2005 - February 26, 2005
February 13, 2005 - February 19, 2005
February 06, 2005 - February 12, 2005
January 30, 2005 - February 05, 2005
January 23, 2005 - January 29, 2005
January 16, 2005 - January 22, 2005
January 09, 2005 - January 15, 2005
January 02, 2005 - January 08, 2005
December 26, 2004 - January 01, 2005
December 19, 2004 - December 25, 2004
December 12, 2004 - December 18, 2004
December 05, 2004 - December 11, 2004
November 28, 2004 - December 04, 2004
November 21, 2004 - November 27, 2004
November 14, 2004 - November 20, 2004
November 07, 2004 - November 13, 2004
October 31, 2004 - November 06, 2004
October 24, 2004 - October 30, 2004
October 17, 2004 - October 23, 2004
October 10, 2004 - October 16, 2004
October 03, 2004 - October 09, 2004
September 26, 2004 - October 02, 2004
September 19, 2004 - September 25, 2004
September 12, 2004 - September 18, 2004
September 05, 2004 - September 11, 2004
August 29, 2004 - September 04, 2004
August 22, 2004 - August 28, 2004
August 15, 2004 - August 21, 2004
August 08, 2004 - August 14, 2004
August 01, 2004 - August 07, 2004
July 25, 2004 - July 31, 2004
July 18, 2004 - July 24, 2004
July 11, 2004 - July 17, 2004