Workplace smoking bans meant to cut insurance costs spark privacy concerns

[The Straight Story]

Cleveland Clinic started by banning smoking on campus but expanded its anti-smoking stance to its hiring protocol. Anyone offered a job is tested to see if they smoke. If a nicotine metabolite is detected, their job offer is rescinded.

...

"We are running a business, and it is our responsibility to do everything we can to reduce expenses," she said.

MorseLife is getting some help striking the right balance through a partnership with Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation's first organizations to push a comprehensive wellness program. A focus on health has become so entrenched at Cleveland Clinic that employees who agree to stop smoking, lose weight or follow other doctors' orders to stave off or reverse illnesses such as diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma or obesity, receive rebates to cover any increases in health insurance premiums. At this year's open enrollment, that was a 17 percent increase.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/money/workplace-smoking-bans-meant-to-cut-insurance-costs-1147694.html

[Vickers]

1. Seems like the test is voluntary. If you want to decline you can. n/t

[The Straight Story]

2. True, hopefully they will test for other things too - drinking, body fat, etc

So that they can at least be consistent.

[Vickers]

3. I think that's what they will all be doing at some point. At my current

company we are "encouraged" to get an annual physical...if you do, they whack about $500 off your premiums for the year (family plan).

Actually, both me AND my wife have to get a physical in order to qualify.

[pnwmom]

5. Exposure to third hand smoke makes other people sick.

Exposure to fat people doesn't cause other people to become physically ill.

And alcohol, in moderation, has certain health benefits.

[The Straight Story]

6. Well, try this:

Go into a garage, close the door, and chain smoke for 2 hours.

Then go into a garage, turn on the car, and stand there for 2 hours.

Which one will do more harm? And won't both stick to clothes?

Which one is spewed out at a rate that is harming the earth and the people on it?

When those people decide to stop harming me, the earth, etc - then they will have room to complain about '3rd hand' smoke.

[Igel]

7. No. Not immediately and not necessarily.

Yet that's also true of 2nd-hand smoke. Yet if you have overweight friends and have a weight problem it's likely to be mutually reinforcing (mis)behavior. If you're normal and have overweight friends that you eat with you're likely to gain weight. (They're likely to eat less, as well.)

http://www.physorg.com/news168536392.html is the closest I could come to providing a link for that in the 45 seconds I decided it was worth dedicating to the link hunt.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. What about second hand smoke?

I see a test case coming up.

More frightening of course is the expanding system of control over people's lives under the rubic
of "doing it for your own good.".

Today, your ability to get a job is tied to your credit score, past un-employment, your age,
if you attended a "leftist" school or college, ( remember the Regent Law School grads in the Bush
Administration?)
your politics, ....what am I leaving out?
Oh,your racial background and religion. Hispanics and Muslims being the new targets.