Whirlpool just suspended a bunch of workers who lied about their smoking.
"Whirlpool Corp. factory in Evansville, Ind., suspended 39 workers who had signed paperwork claiming they don't use tobacco after they were seen smoking or chewing tobacco on company property. Now, some could be fired for lying, company spokeswoman Debby Castrale said.
Rising health care costs are turning employers across the country into nannies. Annual health care premiums are rising more than 10 percent a year, and many companies are fighting this by trying to encourage healthy living, said Indianapolis benefits lawyer Mike Paton."
i think smokers are inconsiderate of others.
i think smokers are committing slow suicide.
i think smokers are murderers as they kill others with their second hand smoke.
I think Whirlpool makes excellent products and should only hire healthy people.
At issue here, I suspect, is fraud. It seems that some companies will hire smokers but impose higher insurance costs on the smoker employees. Some employees don't want to pay those higher rates and so lie about their smoking. That is fraud and certainly grounds for termination in just about any reasonable person's mind. It happens that smokers are associated with higher healthcare costs, and employers don't feel their non-smoking employees should subsidize those higher healthcare costs for what is a lifestyle choice. I smoked for 24+ years and gave it up about 11 years ago. I wanted to live to see my children's children grow up.
Now it is time for these same employers to start putting the same sorts of pressure on obese people. Why should those of us who control our weight and exercise subsidize the bad lifestyle choices of others that increases their health care costs? Let the fat lazy people shoulder the appropriate burden for their unhealthy lifestyle choice.
No flames from me. It amazes me that we are supposed to be advanced and intelligent in this country yet we still have plenty of smokers and probably the most overweight society under the sun. You are absolutely correct that they have brought the cost of everyones healthcare to out of control levels. Some would call it socialistic to try to mandate people to stop smoking and live healthy, but you know what? I don't care what anyone says! No one wants to do JACK about healthcare in this country and it's ever increasing cost so let's get to the meat of the matter here. If there are people who don't give a s*&t about themselves or others in terms of health, then let them be the ones to pay the higher price!!
At issue here, I suspect, is fraud. It seems that some companies will hire smokers but impose higher insurance costs on the smoker employees. Some employees don't want to pay those higher rates and so lie about their smoking. That is fraud and certainly grounds for termination in just about any reasonable person's mind. It happens that smokers are associated with higher healthcare costs, and employers don't feel their non-smoking employees should subsidize those higher healthcare costs for what is a lifestyle choice
We have something similar where I work. You get something like $25 off your insurance premium if you sign a paper stating that you don't smoke, you use a seatbelt when you drive, and you don't drive drunk.
The people who signed the waiver at that company and smoked onsite were idiots. I would only have a problem if the company tested people for tobacco that might have been used on their own time off company grounds.
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Obamanfreude - 1. taking pleasure from the misfortunes of an Obama supporter as he or she is adversely affected by the policies of their Dear Leader.
Some would call it socialistic to try to mandate people to stop smoking and live healthy, but you know what? I don't care what anyone says! No one wants to do JACK about healthcare in this country and it's ever increasing cost so let's get to the meat of the matter here.
"Ah Steve, your computer caloric monitor said that you had an extra 4 ml of ketchup on your hamburger yesterday, here's your daily allowance of calories for today to make up for it" *hands Steve 3 crackers and a celery stalk"
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Obamanfreude - 1. taking pleasure from the misfortunes of an Obama supporter as he or she is adversely affected by the policies of their Dear Leader.
Of course, the first thing that happens when someone quits smoking is their weight balloons up, so then they get nailed when the company implements anti-obesity policies. Ya just can't win.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
Of course, the first thing that happens when someone quits smoking is their weight balloons up, so then they get nailed when the company implements anti-obesity policies. Ya just can't win.
This is correct, and I too experienced this weight increase. I ignored and disregarded this weight increase for a period of time, preferring to get over the smoking thing. In time, and I no longer remember how long, I began exercising -- running and doing sit-ups and push-ups. Over time I have added additional exercises -- arm curls, squats, a variety of arm exercises using weights that I invented myself and don't know how to name, lunges, scissors exercises wearing ankle weights, and knee lifts with ankle weights on (lift each thigh as high as possible, alternating thigh to thigh, promptly about 50 times each, with 5 LBS ankle weights).
The smoking will kill you before the obesity will kill you. Get the smoking conqoured first. Then tackle the obesity issues. Remember, "a journey of one thousand li begins with a single footstep!" [a "li" is some unit of distance used now or formerly in China -- I gathered 1000 li was a long distance] You feel a lot better and more energetic and quick witted when you have your weight down and you are exercising regularly.
Of course, the first thing that happens when someone quits smoking is their weight balloons up, so then they get nailed when the company implements anti-obesity policies. Ya just can't win.
Yep. I'm finally getting my weight under control after quitting >10 years ago. I put on 50 lbs in 2 years after smoking. I have to work out hard every other day to try to get back downto my 'fighting weight'.LOL.
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Obamanfreude - 1. taking pleasure from the misfortunes of an Obama supporter as he or she is adversely affected by the policies of their Dear Leader.
I just kill two birds with one stone by exercising and chewing Red man instead of smoking. of course, my legs are in great shape but my teeth aint doing so good.
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"Shoot him again....his soul is still dancing"
Whirlpool Suspends Lying Smokers
