I hate smoking, and I hate liars, but I also hate companies that attempt to micromanage my health.
- Whirlpool suspends 39 workers, says they lied about smoking – Yahoo! News
- A Whirlpool Corp. factory in Evansville, Ind., has suspended 39 workers who signed insurance paperwork claiming they don’t use tobacco and then were seen smoking or chewing tobacco on company property. Now, some could be fired for lying, company spokeswoman Debby Castrale said.
This news report makes me want to buy a pack of Camels.
Anyone want to join me in decoupling employment from health insurance? Does anyone out there support a national health care plan?
Imagine how much more productive the Whirlpool HR team would be if they could focus on the stuff that matters — and not on the health habits of their employees. Imagine how much more competitive American corporations could become if we focused on products, services, profitability, and employee development — and not on reducing & containing health care costs.
Maybe I’m a dreamer?
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Dude. If the factory is in Evansville, it’s not that the other 1,461 employees don’t smoke but that they are better liars. Trust me on this.
They’re smoking, lying, and eating brain sandwiches.
Maybe you’re a dreamer….but you’re not the only one (cue John Lennon clip!)
At my old job when people signed up for supplemental life insurance (and had to fill out the carrier’s health questionairre) I told them if they lie about smoking they are committing insurance fraud and could go to jail for it. They always believed me. It was hilarious.
Wenchie, you are so evil. It’s impressive, actually.
A large police force in Florida did an analysis of their insurance costs after they implemented their no smoking policy. They dropped their no smoking policy after it was discovered there was no change/savings in their insurance costs and their cops were happier. Companies already discriminate against smokers and the overweight maybe they’ll discriminate against you for not having sex strictly in the missionary position as it may be hazardous to your health.
Food for thought.
Amen, anonymous.
The misionary position is hazardous to my health?
Dead Man Walking
You are indeed a dreamer. Smoking is more than a health issue for some employees – for example the many police and firefighters who are covered by “presumption” laws that make heart and lung ailments fully covered by Worker’s Compensation. That means continued salary and full medical coverage for life if a disability occurs for any heart-lung related reason.
That’s why some of the smarter states have made it illegal for police and firefighters to smoke, on or off the job (Florida has for firefighters since 1986 required “no use of tobacco products 12 months preceding hiring, the local department must enforce from that point). (Do the effects change based on where the smoking occurs?). Not surprisingly, the various unions representing police and firefighters have accepted the laws – with “grandfathering” and smoking cessation programs- in order to keep the greater benefit – the automatic presumption with its full coverages.
The argument is not whether smoking leads to health problems. It is whether those who pay (taxpayers) for heart/lung ailments in their most valued, heroic employees, have a right to require the employee protect said heart and lungs with best available methods — wearing breathing protection when fighting fires, and not voluntarily breathing smoke at the taxpayer’s later expense.
Hello, Fire. I guess my question is this — when does it end? Do we require that our federal employees stop eating trans-fat because taxpayers subsidize federal health insurance? Should our congressmen lose their health care coverage if they have unprotected sex and give/receive STDs to other people? Should we require our postal workers to work out 4-5 days/week to ensure strong back muscles so they can lift boxes without back injury?
I think smoking is ridiculous — it’s a legally addictive product that is chemically manipulated and made more addictive by corporations who then lied to the American public for many years about its safety — but the issue of smoking isn’t managed consistently in the workforce.
I don’t understand the rant about government employees. The issue is not whether or not people should smoke, or whether or not they should be ensured. The issue is that health/life insurance companies have every right to ask questions about a client’s health. Smoking, weight, age, gender, they are all in play. The reason these people are in trouble, and the reason they face termination, is not because they smoke, but because the LIED about smoking. I’m sure there are hundreds of other employees at this plant who smoke, and who admitted it on their questionnaire. They won’t get in trouble because they didn’t lie. Don’t make this out to be a crime against smokers. It is, in fact, a crime against the insurance company!!! Maybe you should instead be outraged that this is why your health insurance is so expensive.
What about integrity? How about walking the walk? Does that not count for something? Or, is it just for convenience?
No honey! I’m not cheating on you! What girl? What are you talking about?
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!