Insurance companies have proposed it and even have applied it in some countries: Smokers can not be covered under the same terms as non-smokers, because in the first medical incidents related with respiratory diseases are higher, which means: more expenses to cover. But in Pima County, Arizona want to go further. In recent days it has raised a proposal which calls not to hire smokers.
Currently, the county Arizona manages a program focused on the welfare of its employees in which the Free tobacco policy is an important part. The oficial request can be read here and is based on studies conducted in recent years, that have concluded that an smoker costs the employer about $ 3,400 a year in medical coverage and productivity failures.
Between the measures that seek to implement is, as already mentioned, not hire smokers, periodic examinations of employees for traces of nicotine and the enactment of a surcharge on smokers covered by the county health plan.
The truth is that it seems imminent passage of this measure, which would create a precedent, and to present positive results, could be implemented in other counties and companies in the United States. How long other countries would take to implement the same policies? Before this panorama, electronic cigarettes could be presented as an alternative and anti tobacco and even anti-nicotine, to reduce the impact on employees who could be affected by these measures.
Currently, the county Arizona manages a program focused on the welfare of its employees in which the Free tobacco policy is an important part. The oficial request can be read here and is based on studies conducted in recent years, that have concluded that an smoker costs the employer about $ 3,400 a year in medical coverage and productivity failures.
Between the measures that seek to implement is, as already mentioned, not hire smokers, periodic examinations of employees for traces of nicotine and the enactment of a surcharge on smokers covered by the county health plan.
Are we facing a discrimination case, or is economically fair?
The truth is that it seems imminent passage of this measure, which would create a precedent, and to present positive results, could be implemented in other counties and companies in the United States. How long other countries would take to implement the same policies? Before this panorama, electronic cigarettes could be presented as an alternative and anti tobacco and even anti-nicotine, to reduce the impact on employees who could be affected by these measures.