ParrotHead
01-26-2005, 10:16 AM
Ok, before we get started I don’t want to hear a bunch of preaching about how bad smoking is. Unless you’ve been in a coma for the past 30 years, everyone knows that it’s bad for you.
For those that haven’t heard, there is a company in Michigan. I believe it’s Michigan – somewhere up north. Anyway, this company adopted a policy starting January 1st that prohibited the use of tobacco products by its employees. The company so far has required employees to take tests to check for tobacco use and have fired people for either the use of tobacco and refusal to take the test.
In your opinion, is this a violation of rights and privacy or is the company justified in doing this?
I’ll start off with my opinions.
1. Any employer has the right to screen employees for possible uses of illegal drugs and the right to fire anyone that’s partaking in use of illegal drugs. However, tobacco is not an illegal drug and if you allow this to take place then you’ve opened the door to any drug being categorized as “bad for you”. What happens when you can’t have a beer after work because you’re afraid of being fired? Get a cold – better stay away from the medicines that contain alcohol also.
2. A company has the right the prevent the use of tobacco on it’s property however, they don’t have the right to tell you what you can and can’t do in the privacy of your own automobile or home. Privacy laws are created to protect individuals while they’re in their homes and not committing an illegal act. Again, smoking is not an illegal act.
My feelings on this is until tobacco use becomes illegal, no one has the right to dictate to you or I what we can and cannot do within the confines of our personal life. Make it illegal and you have solved this problem however you’ve created a whole mess of other problems including taxes, employment rates and unemployment benefits provided by the government.
If this is a case of an employee missing work because they’re doing something then every company has or should have policies and guideline that address these issues. They have every right to disapline an employee if that employee has abused sick time, they do not have the right to invade your privacy and tell you what you can and can’t do outside the workplace.
Accidents happens, are you ready to empower an employer to tell you that you can’t have a beer at home? Are you ready to empower an employer to tell you that you can’t play softball because you’re at risk for breaking a leg and missing time at work? Are you ready to empower an employer to dictate how many children you can have based on employee benefits and insurance? What other freedoms are you willing to allow an employer to dictate whether you have or have not?
For those that haven’t heard, there is a company in Michigan. I believe it’s Michigan – somewhere up north. Anyway, this company adopted a policy starting January 1st that prohibited the use of tobacco products by its employees. The company so far has required employees to take tests to check for tobacco use and have fired people for either the use of tobacco and refusal to take the test.
In your opinion, is this a violation of rights and privacy or is the company justified in doing this?
I’ll start off with my opinions.
1. Any employer has the right to screen employees for possible uses of illegal drugs and the right to fire anyone that’s partaking in use of illegal drugs. However, tobacco is not an illegal drug and if you allow this to take place then you’ve opened the door to any drug being categorized as “bad for you”. What happens when you can’t have a beer after work because you’re afraid of being fired? Get a cold – better stay away from the medicines that contain alcohol also.
2. A company has the right the prevent the use of tobacco on it’s property however, they don’t have the right to tell you what you can and can’t do in the privacy of your own automobile or home. Privacy laws are created to protect individuals while they’re in their homes and not committing an illegal act. Again, smoking is not an illegal act.
My feelings on this is until tobacco use becomes illegal, no one has the right to dictate to you or I what we can and cannot do within the confines of our personal life. Make it illegal and you have solved this problem however you’ve created a whole mess of other problems including taxes, employment rates and unemployment benefits provided by the government.
If this is a case of an employee missing work because they’re doing something then every company has or should have policies and guideline that address these issues. They have every right to disapline an employee if that employee has abused sick time, they do not have the right to invade your privacy and tell you what you can and can’t do outside the workplace.
Accidents happens, are you ready to empower an employer to tell you that you can’t have a beer at home? Are you ready to empower an employer to tell you that you can’t play softball because you’re at risk for breaking a leg and missing time at work? Are you ready to empower an employer to dictate how many children you can have based on employee benefits and insurance? What other freedoms are you willing to allow an employer to dictate whether you have or have not?