Hospital just says no to smokers

Celeste Blackburn SPHR

According to an[URL="http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jan/18/smokers-need-not-apply-job/"] article in the Chattanooga Times Free Press,[/URL] as of February 1, Chattanooga’s Memorial Hospital will quit hiring smokers. Under the new rule, nicotine screenings will be added to the current drug tests applicants must take before they are hired by the hospital, so even using a nicotine patch or gum would mean disqualification. The new rule doesn’t affect current employees.

According to the Vice President of HR Brad Pope, the decision is “an extension of the hospital’s commitment to health” rather than an attempt to save on health care.

In a similar move, Chattanooga’s Fire Department won’t take new recruits who are smokers for the first time this year.

The article mentions that 26 states have laws prohibiting "discriminating" against smokers in such a way.

For those of you who don't live in those states, have you ever considered a similar move?

I think one issue that could become a real problem for the hospital is the divide between smokers (or wannabe smokers) hired before and after the cutoff date. Seems like a good way to build a lot of resentment when the person who was forced to quit smoking for the job has to watch coworkers hired before February 1 go off for smoke breaks every hour or so.

What are your thoughts?

Celeste

plynnl

Washington has a law that no smoking in any establishment (even bars) and you have to be 25' from entrance or exit to smoke. I was at the hospital recently and it was amazing how many workers were huddled together 25 feet from the door smoking in the rain.

ACU Frank

We have such a law. Before the law was enacted, I was pretty up front with the notion that I give preference to non-smoking applicants. But now, I would never dream of being so up front about it.