self-insured may qualify for discounts for having more nonsmoking employees or get higher cost for having more smoking employees. Those rates are consumed by the employer and at most times are not passed down to the employee. There is no exact scale to measure excess healthcare cost a formula can be used to get an estimate. Where employer healthcare expenditures are 534.5 billion smoking a smoking private employee is 20.8 million
In a study done by Martin J Lecker “The Smoking Penalty: Distributive Justice or Smokism?” Lecker (2009) wanted to know whether no not it hiring of only nonsmokers is a just practice. The reason behind his questioning is because many companies have chosen to take that route in order to save money and have a healthy company with healthy employees. Also with recent bans on smoking nationwide it looks a lot better when a company truly cares about its employees and their wellbeing, not to say that smoking is the only hazard people face in life but it causes harm not only to oneself but those around the smoke as well. Can this be a form of discrimination not to hire those who smoke the question is debatable, Lecker (2009) coined a term “smokism” during his research which he defines as prejudice, discrimination, or denial of justice and fair treatment by individuals or institutions against people who smoke a tobacco related product. These prejudices could include no smoking hiring practices, work performance stereotypes, insurance premiums being higher for smokers, forcing smokers to take nicotine test throughout employment, and forcing employees to quit smoking in order to keep their jobs. Banning Practices Many business practice different methods of not hiring smokers, although not legal in all states there are ways around it. In a survey that was taken by the Society of Human Resource Management showed the 2% of respondents in the survey stated they have asked applicants if they smoked during interviews (Lecker, 2009). Some companies who currently have smokers try to force them out by not allowing smoking on or near the premises of the jobs, and some take it as far as not being able to smoke in their cars on the premises. World Health Organization (WHO) started practicing hiring restrictions in 2005 saying they do not and will not hire smokers who are not willing to stop smoking. During the application process potential employees are asked two questions: Do you use tobacco or smoke? And if you use tobacco or smoke would you continue to use it if employed by WHO (Voigt, 2012)? In some hospitals and other health care agencies they have taken things a step further by not hiring only smokers but people who test positive for cotinine. Cotinine is a product which is produced after nicotine enters the body. These cotinine test cannot conclude if it is showing as a result of use or exposure (Voigt, 2012). Cotinine test do not show how it was consumed in the body, so if it was second hand smoke, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or nicotine patches it could cause a person to fail. Investors Property Management, rejected any applicant who began smoking in 2005 and did not provide medical insurance to smoking employees hired before the ban took effect. Another way that businesses are stopping smoking …show more content…
Companies want to ensure that its employees are given a healthy way of living for all in the world to live longer lives and healthier lives. Protection from second hand smoke and health issues, which can be costly in terms of money, family, growth within the workplace and inside the home. Companies feel that everyone should enjoy life to the fullest and should not be a burden on others only to assist others. It’s often that people pray for protection from harm, accidents, loss of jobs, illness, and pray for the better things in life such as more income to feed the family and take trips to enjoy life’s pleasures. Its things like this that companies want for its employees to live productive lives both inside and outside of work. Businesses feel that if an employee is being productive, proactive and not taking as much time slacking they can not only build themselves but assist in the growth of the
In a study done by Martin J Lecker “The Smoking Penalty: Distributive Justice or Smokism?” Lecker (2009) wanted to know whether no not it hiring of only nonsmokers is a just practice. The reason behind his questioning is because many companies have chosen to take that route in order to save money and have a healthy company with healthy employees. Also with recent bans on smoking nationwide it looks a lot better when a company truly cares about its employees and their wellbeing, not to say that smoking is the only hazard people face in life but it causes harm not only to oneself but those around the smoke as well. Can this be a form of discrimination not to hire those who smoke the question is debatable, Lecker (2009) coined a term “smokism” during his research which he defines as prejudice, discrimination, or denial of justice and fair treatment by individuals or institutions against people who smoke a tobacco related product. These prejudices could include no smoking hiring practices, work performance stereotypes, insurance premiums being higher for smokers, forcing smokers to take nicotine test throughout employment, and forcing employees to quit smoking in order to keep their jobs. Banning Practices Many business practice different methods of not hiring smokers, although not legal in all states there are ways around it. In a survey that was taken by the Society of Human Resource Management showed the 2% of respondents in the survey stated they have asked applicants if they smoked during interviews (Lecker, 2009). Some companies who currently have smokers try to force them out by not allowing smoking on or near the premises of the jobs, and some take it as far as not being able to smoke in their cars on the premises. World Health Organization (WHO) started practicing hiring restrictions in 2005 saying they do not and will not hire smokers who are not willing to stop smoking. During the application process potential employees are asked two questions: Do you use tobacco or smoke? And if you use tobacco or smoke would you continue to use it if employed by WHO (Voigt, 2012)? In some hospitals and other health care agencies they have taken things a step further by not hiring only smokers but people who test positive for cotinine. Cotinine is a product which is produced after nicotine enters the body. These cotinine test cannot conclude if it is showing as a result of use or exposure (Voigt, 2012). Cotinine test do not show how it was consumed in the body, so if it was second hand smoke, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or nicotine patches it could cause a person to fail. Investors Property Management, rejected any applicant who began smoking in 2005 and did not provide medical insurance to smoking employees hired before the ban took effect. Another way that businesses are stopping smoking …show more content…
Companies want to ensure that its employees are given a healthy way of living for all in the world to live longer lives and healthier lives. Protection from second hand smoke and health issues, which can be costly in terms of money, family, growth within the workplace and inside the home. Companies feel that everyone should enjoy life to the fullest and should not be a burden on others only to assist others. It’s often that people pray for protection from harm, accidents, loss of jobs, illness, and pray for the better things in life such as more income to feed the family and take trips to enjoy life’s pleasures. Its things like this that companies want for its employees to live productive lives both inside and outside of work. Businesses feel that if an employee is being productive, proactive and not taking as much time slacking they can not only build themselves but assist in the growth of the