[$tinkle]

Fort Worth to consider tobacco ban for new city employees

City employees who take a smoke break are fuming over a new idea to make Fort Worth a tobacco-free work place by not hiring smokers.
"I think it's an infringement on the public's rights to live their life the way they choose to," said Vince Chasteen, president of the city's employee association. Chasteen has worked for the city for 30 years; he's smoked for 41.
He said he understands the need to lower health care costs, but thinks employees should always have a choice.
"I feel like the next thing they want to do is take DNA samples to figure out if anybody is going to have any kind of diseases going forward," Chasteen said.
Mayor Betsy Price has made it her mission to make Fort Worth a healthier city.
"Certainly we put tax-payer dollars into health care for our employees, and anything that might benefit the health to make our employees more protective and healthy, we're going to take a look at," she said.

well, it's TX, so my guess is there are more fatties than smokers, and if stats are any indication (paging toshi), heart disease, diabeetus, & other obesity-related illnesses far out pace smoking-related ones both in number, and cost

 

[dante]

Don't worry, Texas is getting on board with not hiring fatties either....

 

[mattmatt86]

Don't worry, Texas is getting on board with not hiring fatties either....

Only thing I took away from that:

"research has shown that obesity tended to lower the self-esteem of white women much more than black women."

They needed to research that?

 

[Pesqueeb]

Fort Worth to consider tobacco ban for new city employeeswell, it's TX, so my guess is there are more fatties than smokers, and if stats are any indication (paging toshi), heart disease, diabeetus, & other obesity-related illnesses far out pace smoking-related ones both in number, and cost

Don't worry, Texas is getting on board with not hiring fatties either....

I on board with both of these. Though If I had to pick one, I would do away with the fatties first. Unless you have an actual, medically verified condition, I find fatties even more disgusting than smokers.

 

[Westy]

If I remember correctly, a few years ago a survey thread showed a surprising number of monkeys were smokers. I never knew of cyclist who smoked until I went to some lift assisted trails. The rate of smoking, knuckledragging, and brain damage was exponentially higher than the population of those willing to pedal.

 

[binary visions]

Baylor Health already stopped hiring smokers:

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/092211-Baylor-No-Smokers-Need-Apply

Frankly, I think it's a good move for the company. I am virtually certain they'll get a hefty discount on their insurance premiums, and a number of studies have indicated that smokers are less productive, take more time off, and have more sick days than non-smokers.

 

[blackohio]

i hope they plan to tell people what they can/can't eat too.

 

[Pesqueeb]

i hope they plan to tell people what they can/can't eat too.

Your future diet will consist of only Soylent Green my friend. So, here's to your health!

 

[jonKranked]

i should start an insurance company that would cater exclusively to smokers and fatties. premiums would be dirt cheap, but the only procedure I would cover is euthanasia.

 

[Westy]

If they just considered stupid as a pre-existing condition they wouldn't have to cover fat or smoking related diseases.

 

[$tinkle]

free market [dis]incentives

please & thank you

 

[mattmatt86]

John Raese Equates Smoking Ban To Hitler Policy


Not Hired because you're a smoker...Being burned alive in an Oven. Tomatoe...Tomahto

 

[MMike]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Mercier+admitted+smoking+harmful/6488333/story.html

 

[$tinkle]

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Mercier+admitted+smoking+harmful/6488333/story.html

flip-flopper

can't trust him