"Lighting Up" Could Mean Looking for Another Job

January 20, 2006

The trend to institute smoking bans in public buildings, restaurants and other areas may be taking a giant leap right forward right into the work arena.

Scotts Miracle Grow has announced to its employees that after a grace period, employees who smoke on - or off - the job will be terminated. The company contends that it is trying to control rising health-care costs and improve worker health, according to an account by the Chicago Tribune.

And Scotts isn't the first company to institute this type of policy, never mind the legality of the move. Weyco Inc., a small Michigan-based benefits firm, had workers'-rights groups up in arms when it declared that smokers must quit cigarettes and undergo mandatory testing or find another job.

In fact, an estimated 6,000 employers, ranging from municipalities to a Seattle property-management firm, all raising the banner of saving on health care expenses, are now refusing to hire smokers, the National Workrights Institute reported. The institute is not in favor the trend which it believes smacks of discrimination.

The question of legality arises when smoking remains a legal activity, particularly when it is done in the privacy of one's home. However, the impetus for some health care companies and other firms around the country is that if insurance companies provide safe drivers with discounts, why not offer the same discounts to those who maintain healthy lifestyles.

West Coast-based PacifiCare, Aetna, Cigna and the newly launched Virgin Life Care (a partnership between billionaire Richard Branson and Humana) offer speical initiatives to those who practice good habits.

The Tribune reports that Chicago-based provider Destiny Health, allows its members to earn Vitality Bucks (or points) by undergoing fitness assessments, exercising or seeking preventive care such as Pap smears and prostate exams. Points can also be earned by embarking on charity walks, learning CPR and even reading health-related tidbits on the company Web sites. The Vitality Points can be redeemed for CDs, frequent flyer miles, movie tickets or hotel packages.

The Department of Health and Human Services agrees when it says that a whopping 75 percent of health-care spending could be eliminated or delayed through preventive measures and healthy lifestyle choices. Trends are showing the some insurance companies are beginning to believe that concrete preventative health care is cost effective over treating disease--after the fact.

Many companies now offer incentives to their employees including memberships in health clubs paid for by the company as well as establishing a health club for employees right on the company's property, contests with prizes for those who lose weight and so on.

With health insurers and companies promoting healthy lifestyles, will the trend continue with firms not hiring or even firing employees who smoke on or off the job? With Chicago prohibiting smoking in bars and bowling alleys--nothing is out of the realm of possibility.