If you are seeking a job at a hospital, you may need to add a new step into your job search process. In addition to updating your resume, brushing up on your professional networking skills, and searching the medical job boards, you may also need to quit smoking in order to get hired.
In what could be a sign of a growing trend in hospital employment, another facility has announced it will no longer hire smokers. St. Francis Medical Center in Missouri will not hire smokers as of January 1 2011, according to Southeast Missourian. Job applicants at St. Francis will be required to pass a nicotine test before being hired. St. Francis joins the ranks of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, and Ohio-based ProMedica Health System, which have also recently introduced similar policies regarding smokers.
A hospital wellness program, and economics, were cited as reasons for the new policy. "Action on Smoking and Health, a not-for-profit anti-smoking and nonsmokers' rights group, says employees who smoke cost their companies $12,000 a year unnecessarily," the article states. Current employees are grandfathered in, but will be encouraged to curb their smoking habits with programs and products sponsored by the hospital.
Will this new trend influence your smoking habit at all? Do you agree with these hospitals for hiring non-smokers only? Do you think the reasons for the policy are accurate and justified? Share your thoughts below.
Honestly, I’m a smoker .. and I agree with that policy. Actually, many smokers who want to quit smoking, but they have not found a way. Now with the existence of this policy, I think this could reduce the number of smokers. At least for those who work in those hospital …
Legal rights anyone? What about alcohol? Maybe speeding tickets? Medical professionals who are unfaithful to spouses? Overeaters? People with dyed hair maybe? Motorcyclists? How about people who’ve rip the tags off their mattresses? Folks with high cholesterol? This all sounds very unconstitutional to me. Haven’t we been told that what people do in private is theirs to do so long as it’s legal. Not demacratic. This isn’t China. Very sad. Just practice medicine.
I don’t understand how legally an employer can refuse to hire a smoker……… the PRESIDENT smokes, for crying in the rain!!!!!!
Employers can’t administer skills/knowledge tests unless they can prove it’s essential to minimal job performance.
What about drinkers/alcoholics; sky-divers; race-car drivers; hunters; people who have had serious health problems and remained on medically-prescribed drugs for long periods of time; other “risk” takers ?
Smoking does NOT alter a person’s skill level or ability to perform job functions as advertised in published job openings.
I know that discrimination laws may not apply because smoking does not specifically fall under the protected categories, but do Federal labor laws permit shunning unpopular personal activities (such as smoking)? I don’t think so. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD TAKE THIS TO COURT!
The smell of smoke lingering on skin, hair and clothes is very unpleasant to an ill person, especially if they are nauseated. The lingering smell also suggests lingering cancer-causing residue that I don’t think a vulnerable newborn needs to be exposed to. If you’re giving healthcare to people take care of your health too.