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Saturday, February 12, 2011

A Smoker Free Workplace

I have heard two reports over the last two days of a new hiring trend: companies that will not hire people who smoke. Supposedly, the reason for this trend is two fold, namely, first, that people who smoke have higher medical costs and miss more days of work; and second, that smokers take more breaks than non-smokers. I find it humorous that the media reports on this development as if it is a wonderful trend for the improvement of society. So let's be clear, if an insurance company refuses to insure someone who is diabetic due to eating too much sugar earlier in one's life, that is illegal under Obamacare and discriminatory against those with pre-existing conditions. On the other hand, if an employer refuses to hire people who smoke on the grounds that it is an earlier stage of pre-existing condition, that is life affirming and wonderful. Does anyone else think this is schizophrenic?

Listen, I do not smoke and I am not advocating for smokers. I just think that there ought to be a little consistency out there in the media. Facts do not change just because smokinig is frowned upon by the progressive nanny state.

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