[cQT6nmEc]

A city councilman in Florida is trying to ban smokers from being hired for city jobs as a cost saving measure, thoughts?

http://www.local6.com/news/6786475/detail.html

[Uhmavano]

Sure, as you'd save on health care premiums for everyone.

[MegaJIT]

While they're at it, they need to ban overweight people, those who drink alcohol, those who drive, diabetics, those with a history of heart disease or breast cancer in their families, etc.

[cl004]

While they're at it, they need to ban overweight people, those who drink alcohol, those who drive, diabetics, those with a history of heart disease or breast cancer in their families, etc.

I'm with you on this one. How about people that like to participate in extreme sports of people that skydive, bungee jump, etc...

[Kubasarika]

Florida has been getting pritty lame for the past few years and now this.
sad really sad
I was thinking about moving to Melbourne this year, now I'm having second thoughts.

[Ferrotoral]

While they're at it, they need to ban overweight people, those who drink alcohol, those who drive, diabetics, those with a history of heart disease or breast cancer in their families, etc.

Overweight and drunks, yes, as they choose their lifestyles.

[vekiuytyh]

I'm with you on this one. How about people that like to participate in extreme sports of people that skydive, bungee jump, etc...

Since these tend to be achievers, they are unlikely to be working for government. But in the small percentage that this applies, I'd say keep them on, but they need to pay their own insurance premium rider on these activities.

[vosteglog]

Overweight and drunks, yes, as they choose their lifestyles.

Not all overweight people overeat, there are some that are genetically predisposed to being overweight.

Have smokers pay a higher premium, that I have no problem with and I am a smoker, but, where will it stop?
Banning smoking in the workplace is fine with me, as there are people that have health issues where being around smoke can cause problems, banning smoking in resturants I DO have a problem with, it should be up to the individual resturant/bar owner not the government.

What people do on their own time as long as its legal should NOT be held against them.

[HomePageOEMfreeSOFTWARE]

Not all overweight people overeat, there are some that are genetically predisposed to being overweight.

Have smokers pay a higher premium, that I have no problem with and I am a smoker, but, where will it stop?
Banning smoking in the workplace is fine with me, as there are people that have health issues where being around smoke can cause problems, banning smoking in resturants I DO have a problem with, it should be up to the individual resturant/bar owner not the government.

What people do on their own time as long as its legal should NOT be held against them.

Very few fatties heve genetic problems. If so and they can prove it, then they can stay.

Unfortuanytely, insurance companies are not too creative with the smokers rider policy. That's the crux of my issue stand here.

[Mr Andrews]

Very few fatties heve genetic problems. If so and they can prove it, then they can stay.

Unfortuanytely, insurance companies are not too creative with the smokers rider policy. That's the crux of my issue stand here.

Then its time the insurance companies GET creative. Like I stated earlier, I have no problem paying a higher premium because I do smoke, but, here is one small issue I have. A few years ago my doc prescribed one of those stop smoking meds, the insurance would not pay for it and at the time I couldnt afford the script. Wouldnt it make sense to pay for the script with a decent chance I would stop smoking and wouldnt be making as many trips to the doc on average??

Btw, Only 1 trip to the doc last year and 1 this year, the one this year was a bug I caught from my wife LOL

[treawittelf]

Then its time the insurance companies GET creative. Like I stated earlier, I have no problem paying a higher premium because I do smoke, but, here is one small issue I have. A few years ago my doc prescribed one of those stop smoking meds, the insurance would not pay for it and at the time I couldnt afford the script. Wouldnt it make sense to pay for the script with a decent chance I would stop smoking and wouldnt be making as many trips to the doc on average??

Btw, Only 1 trip to the doc last year and 1 this year, the one this year was a bug I caught from my wife LOL

Just noticed your sig and wanted to say thanks for your years of service!
OORAH!

[Antelpebabe]

I don't know if it works this way in the USA, but smokers here in New Zealand pay a tax on their cigarettes - it increases fairly often, and it's something like 8 or 9 $NZ (6 or 7 $US maybe) per packet of 20. Of course we also have a reasonable public health system funded, in part, by that tax, making the situation even less comparable... but lack of relevance has never shut me up before, I ain't starting now!

My point is that I will die earlier, on average, because I smoke. As a result of this (and of my family history of heart disease), I almost certainly won't live long enough to need a hip replacement operation, unlike many non-smokers, (and especially the joggers). So in some ways I am paying more for, and getting less from, the health system.

Yes I'll get treatment for whatever smoking related illness kills me, but everyone dies, and almost everyone gets treated for what kills them.

So in the interests of equality, where's the tax on fatty fast food like McD's?

[Deribasov]

I am so tired of hearing about "genetics" being responsible for anyone being overweight. It is a simple law of physics, if you restrict your calorie intake to only what your body requires to function, you cannot gain weight, the additional calories/mass cannot just be made to magically appear from nowhere.

In my view, the central issue here is whether or not employers have a right to discriminate in employment based on the likelyhood that a particular person is likely to results in higher costs to that employeer.

[WaysletlyLene]

Just noticed your sig and wanted to say thanks for your years of service!
OORAH!

Thank You

[HornyMolly]

I don't know if it works this way in the USA, but smokers here in New Zealand pay a tax on their cigarettes - it increases fairly often, and it's something like 8 or 9 $NZ (6 or 7 $US maybe) per packet of 20. Of course we also have a reasonable public health system funded, in part, by that tax, making the situation even less comparable... but lack of relevance has never shut me up before, I ain't starting now!

Yes in most if not all states there is an extra tax on cigarettes, usually its called a "sin tax". What that money is used for depends on the state, but in my state (Ohio) its not even close to the amount you pay. I think its around $1.50

[JacomoR]

The Florida Suprme Court ruled more than 10 years ago that a municipality could refuse to hire someone who smoked. It isn't a federal issue, so unless there is a state statute to the contrary, Melbourne can decline to hire smokers.

[allvideO]

While they're at it, they need to ban overweight people, those who drink alcohol, those who drive, diabetics, those with a history of heart disease or breast cancer in their families, etc.

They do. The Boston Police Department put in a no smoking rule years ago, they also require a physical, and there is a fitness requirement. The initial reason was that smoking in a police car created an unhealthy workplace for your partner, another reason was that the city had a duty to spend the taxpayers money wisely, and the no smoking rule saves on health care costs.
BTW, Massachusetts has since banned smoking in the workplace, since restaurants and bars are workplaces, smoking is banned there and in virtually everyplace except outdoors or private homes. They are considering banning outdoor smoking within 100 feet of the entrance to a workplace.

This has created a little cultural shock for those of us old enough to remember a time when if you saw a young woman standing in a doorway smoking she was probably a hooker, and anyone smoking in a doorway was probably up to no good. It was something you only saw when you drove through the sleaziest part of town. Sometimes I get this feeling driving through the business district that I'm in a red light district, with all the people in the doorways taking their butt break.

[socialkiiii]

They do. The Boston Police Department put in a no smoking rule years ago, they also require a physical, and there is a fitness requirement. The initial reason was that smoking in a police car created an unhealthy workplace for your partner, another reason was that the city had a duty to spend the taxpayers money wisely, and the no smoking rule saves on health care costs.

Being Law Enforcement it doesnt suprise me, infact it would suprise me if they DIDNT have a fitness requirement.

[GutleNus]

What about refusing to hire people that engage in sodomy, with its higher cost risk of HIV infection?

[Narkeere]

.... A few years ago my doc prescribed one of those stop smoking meds, the insurance would not pay for it and at the time I couldnt afford the script. ....

You don't need drugs to quit smoking. Just look at your ashtray: that's what smokers lungs look like. Then quit. Why should an insurer pay for drugs that you don't need?

For that matter why should they pay for anything that is routine? Its like paying General Motors a monthly stipend to get your oil changed.