Are smokers protected?
scottofstead
5 Posts
I just learned that one of my management team is asking candidates if they smoke as one of his interview questions. We're in Washington State. Any thoughts from the collective wisdom on whether or not he's causing us trouble? Thanks to all!
Comments
Also, the assumptions your co. pres. makes about smoking and health are not universal. I know many smokers who miss less time due to illness than nonsmokers and I would be hesitant to use this argument to sell a policy change to the employees.
Washington State seems to have a bit more anti-smoking public policy bias than some, so you're probably safer asking the question there than in many other states.
Brad Forrister
Director of Publishing
M. Lee Smith Publishers
>anti-smoking public policy bias than some, so
>you're probably safer asking the question there
>than in many other states.
Yeah, you just can't trust those tree-hugging, health-conscious, Birkenstock-wearing Washingtonians to let you have any fun. x;-)
There are new laws working their way through the state House & Senate that would prohibit smoking in public places - and I really believe it's only a matter of time before they get passed. As these laws, the lawsuit our attorney general was involved in against tobacco companies & public opinion continue to turn against smokers, I think it's only a matter of time before more and more applicants will be denied employment if they answer yes to the 'do you smoke?' question. As Brad and Parabeagle stated, it's okay to ask the question - it's even okay to not hire smokers.
Here's a few reasons why he's causing trouble. Most people, especially smokers, know that if they answer 'yes' to that question they won't get hired - so they lie - good people or bad people - they just want a job. He's also causing trouble because he's the only one asking. He's causing trouble because it doesn't sound from your post as though there's a company policy/consensus about smokers. Although it may not be against the law - it's remarkably poor management.
Final thought, he says that he doesn't want to hire smokers because of the health risks - does he also discriminate against fat people, type 'a' personalities, single mothers, people over 50, men who divorce later in life - all of these groups have also been linked to heart disease, the largest killer in the nation, and/or early death. I won't kid you, employees with cancer eat up the health premiums & can cause the rates to go higher, I currently have 2 employees with cancer, one breast & the other prostate - I swear, neither smokes nor has smoked in their lives - apparently, it's genetic. So when hiring, should I ask if anyone in the applicant's family has had cancer?
I mean, if he's citing health concerns against hiring one particular group - let's not be a hypocrite - let's go for them all.
It's a big debate - with a lot of ramifications - if I can make a simple-minded argument - just think what a good attorney could do as well - maybe not now - but in the future. Have the debate at your company - make the decision & then make sure all follow the policy.
Another angle from which to look at this would be to analyze any adverse impact this may have on certain groups or classes. You may find yourself looking at this in a totally different light.
Just my thoughts............
Gene