Fla. Companies Forbidding Smoking In Private Lives

http://www.local6.com/news/14537611/detail.html
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- A growing number of companies in Florida are forbidding their workers from smoking not only at work, but also in their private lives.

Westgate Resorts, the largest private employer in Central Florida, has banned smoking and won't budge from a policy of not hiring smokers and firing employees who do smoke.

"When I found out it was legal to discriminate against smokers, I put the policy in place," Westgate president and CEO David Seigel said.

Seigel told Local 6 that the policy was prompted by the death of his close friend -- a heavy smoker who died of cancer.

"If you are too stupid to understand that smoking is going to kill you, then we are going to tell you that if you want to work for our company, you will not smoke," Seigel said.

Central Floridian Ava Bryant said she was called by a recruiter for Westgate and told not to come in for an interview because Westgate won't hire smokers.

"I call it discrimination," Bryant said. "I'm not an avid smoker or a constant smoker. I just said I smoke. Sometimes I may pick up a cigarette and smoke."

But Local 6 reporter Steven Cooper reported that at Westgate, "sometimes" is one time too many.

Seigel said his policy is cost effective and said since it went into effect, health insurance claims have gone down significantly -- making insurance more affordable for employees.

The concern for privacy groups is that policies could extend beyond health issues.

"Why should non-smokers sympathize with you?" Cooper asked Bryant.

"Because, then if it's not for the smoking, it may be something else that may infringe on their rights," Bryant said. "So, how far are you going to go with it? Like, you wear pants so we are not going to hire you because you wear pants?"

"Anything we can do that is legal and not discriminatory, we will do," Seigel said. "If you are an alcoholic and we have the right to fire you, we will do so. And if you are obese and there is a way for us not to hire you or to fire you, we will do that, too."

"That sounds like discrimination," Cooper said.

"Well, I'm saying that anything that is not discriminatory," Seigel said. "If it is, we can't do very much about it."

Local 6 videotaped several Westgate employees leaving his building and smoking in a nearby strip mall.

Seigel said if those smokers are found out, they will be disciplined and assisted to quit smoking.

Seigel said when the non-smoking policy initially went into effect he gave employees a year to stop smoking and opportunities to receive counseling, patches and other smoking cessation programs.
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ya like this is gonna fly???? When companies butt into people's private lives then I think a lawsuit may be in order......discrimination??? you bet it is!

Yup...but they won the public smoking ban. I guess ones civil rights take presidence over anothers civil rights.
Kat

Or is that constitution al rights?
Kat

Well public smoking, I can see. Will they ban smoking from your car? home? Can you imagine all these ppl having a nic fit at once???? It would be WW3!!!

They are already working on banning from cars. And homes with children, which I actually agree with. Kids should not have to be exposed to smoking parents. Take it outside.
Kat

First off, I don't smoke.

My insurance policy through my work costs less because I don't smoke. There'san agreement you sign saying you're a non-smoker, and the cost is less.

The apartment I live in is non-smoking. They don't allow smoking in any of the apartments. I understand more and more apartments are going to this policy.

As I said, I don't smoke. So I really don't think about this issue too much. Of course, when I see a news story about apartments burning down because someone fell asleep in bed while smoking, I am glad we have a no-smoking rule.

Good point.
Kat

true, its harder to find a place to live even here if you smoke...most are no smoking, no pets, no kids sometimes. Ive even seen ads where it said no drinking/drugs!!!

But if you own your own home, then you have your rights to smoke in it. True we shouldnt smoke around our kids...

There are also public entities in Fl that don't hire not only smokers, but all tobacco users (e.g. chewing tobacco, cigars, snuff, etc).

I don't smoke either Knox but I think it is wrong to tell empoyees that they cannot participate in a LEGAL activity during non-work hours.

What's next? No drinking while not at work- that can be bad for your health. What about eating fried foods? Is that next?

An employer should have no say in their employees choices while not at work as long as they are legal and ethical.

People say they don't care becaue they don't smoke. I don't use tobacco either but I see this as an incredible abuse of power.

And if they come for my donuts I'll really be mad....

I thought this was still the U.S.A., guess I was wrong.

The company I work for allows smoking out side. However, there are random drug/alcohol tests, always on mondays, and if you show positeve for either one...in any amount...poof you are outta there.

Hi Anoasis

I never said that it was right for employers to tell people that they can't smoke during off-hours. I agree that's wrong. I merely said that I'm glad that we're not allowed to smoke in our apartment building. I'd hate to lose everything because somebody fell asleep with a lit cig.

You're right, tho. I look for the day when employers don't allow employees to be overweight. That puts me in trouble there .

But I'll eat doughnuts with you any day, Anoasis

******anoasis******

my hero

I wasn't picking on you Knox. I understand some peoples disinterest...

but apathy is a luxury we cannot afford IMO if we would like to continue to enjoy our freedoms and privacys.

~~~~

Dunkin Donuts or Krispy Kream??

I'm more of a Dunkin Donuts girl myself but Krispy Kream can be good for a serious sugar hit...

the fascism is everywhere

AND SPREADING


Girls who got detention for hugging decry ban
Students tell TODAY they understand policy, but feel schools going too far

On three occasions, 13-year-old Megan Coulter threw her arm around the shoulder of a classmate. Just once, 12-year-old Madison Muir hugged a friend who had recently lost a parent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21690514/

I will risk detention and give you a hug...

((((DJ))))

Actually I always had a lot of fun in detention...

I can understand liability issues if a student complained about another student hugging them and the school ignored it but I don't understand the liability associated with voluntary hugging.

ok now ya did it

come to my detention room

That is just taking things too far. What I or anyonme does in their private life, assuming it's legal is none of my employer's business. This sets a bad precedent. Wonder if it will be challenged?

Oops...too late. There already has been a place that fires people if they get over a certain weight that they started to work with. It makes you sign a contract.
My mom had an insurance company that also helped with prescriptions; it also went smoke free to work there. None at all, anywhere. If you tested for nicotine you were out the door. It also started letting those policy holders go as well.
There are as well, companies that will not allow you to smoke anywhere on their property, not in your car in a corner, nada.
Some even have fences up to drive through and if you smoke inside there...you are gone.
They also make it impossible to smoke on breaks in some areas, by putting a sign outside as bounderies; to where you cannot possibly get there and back before your break is up.
Kat