Comments on: Can HR ban smoking – on AND off the job?

By: renoguard

renoguard — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:28:50 +0000

I am getting tired of employees being thought of as PROPERTY. I have never been fired, but have been written-up and yelled at for stuff people saw me doing on my OWN TIME, including SMOKING IN MY OWN CAR ON MY DAY OFF!!!!!Where in the hell are the unions in this matter? I thought they were supposed to represent the “working people”!

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:54:32 +0000

The busin

By: Mad about it all

Mad about it all — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:25:22 +0000

interesting….you said “Of course, research has shown that the real expense in healthcare occurs towards the end of life and that those living a healthy lifestyle tend to cost 10% to 26% more in lifetime healthcare costs than obese people and smokers.”

who would have thought it, but I sure saw a lot of healthy looking people in the cancer docs office….

By: mike R

mike R — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:30:21 +0000

That is the BIG reason that employers should not be delegated the responsibility for providing healthcare coverage for all Americans. It promotes actions by the employer to limit costs and preserve profits that interferes with an employee’s lawful activities and intrudes into privacy. Remember that employers offered healthcare insurance as a way to attract and keep good employees at a lower cost (they used their employee pool to bargain a lower cost than an individual would get) rather than simply offering higher wages.

Concerning the cost to employers by those who lead unhealthy lifestyles, I agree that smokers and obese people should pay a higher premium to cover their costs. It is only fair. That is American. Of course, research has shown that the real expense in healthcare occurs towards the end of life and that those living a healthy lifestyle tend to cost 10% to 26% more in lifetime healthcare costs than obese people and smokers. As most of these costs usually fall on the government Medicare/ Medicaid system when the person has spent down their assets (is destitute) and most of those who lead unhealthy lifestyles don’t benefit from the annual checkups, knee and hip replacements, quadruple bypass surgeries that the healthy people reap, they should be either be exempt from paying the Medicare/Medicaid taxes or be given a rebate that reflects their 10% to 26% savings in overall costs over their lifetime. Those who lead healthy lifestyles, should also have to pay their share as I understand the funds are getting scarce due to their living longer.

Of course, my experience with those who believe they lead a healthy lifestyle (most not all), tend to look down on those who make unhealthy choices and suffer from the dillusion that unhealthy lifestyles cost them money. All the facts in the world will not deter them from this false belief. I guess, if we had mental illness parity as part of our healthcare, they would cost even more, but that is another discussion.

By: Mad about it all

Mad about it all — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:12:19 +0000

In truth the medical industry is completely out of control with costs. some doctors make over 10 million a year, others make 100,000. Hospitals charges are crazy high because of the number of non-payers that arrive there and here is an example: my cancer treatment retail cost (before insurance got it discounted): $160,000, after insurance negotiated: $60,000. Even $60,000 was too much for 3 chemo treatments and 27 out patient radiation treatments. If I did not have INSURANCE, I would be DEAD DEAD DEAD today! My last GROUP health insurance quote: $28,000 per year. Now who the hell can afford that? Oh and I have NEVER smoked….smoking does not necessarily cause illness, mostly poor nutrition does. So if you eat and Mickie Ds, you should have very high health insurance. LOL

The point is, there is no one thing that causes health problems. I am just tired of being a slave to insurance companies.

By: A. J.

A. J. — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:51:37 +0000

Health insurance companies do not raise premiums based upon any unhealthy choice more than smoking. The blame lies with insurance companies who jack up premiums, not with employers who are simply looking out for innocent employees. You can argue all you want that employers have no right to make such decisions, but as for me, I will do what is in the best interest of my firm and current employees. That is as long as I comlpiant legally.

By: Al

Al — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:43:35 +0000

In that light, working is actually bad for me, so I think we should ban working also. the government is allowing companies to have too much control over employees. people are becoming slaves. which was made absolutely illegal in 1865! Where’s Abe when we need him?

By: Renato Sison

Renato Sison — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:31:06 +0000

If companies ban smoking on and off work because of health reasons, I think companies should also ban obesity, motorcycle/bicycle ownership, eating too much sugar/carbohydrates, not sleeping enough, etc which are all detrimental to health and which actually is detrimental to efficiency in the workplace.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:16:28 +0000

You people need to get a life!

By: A. J.

A. J. — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:13:57 +0000

Is it fair to charge one employee a higher insurance premium as the result of the unhealthy choice of another? This boils down to personal responsibility. An individual must face consequences when their actions lead tot he detriment of others.