Maria_Stephanos's Blog

Maria, unfortunately, this is just the latest place to have this practice...It's being done in other job areas as well.

I'm with you in that I don't care what someone's legal "bad" habits are off the clock...If someone I'm dealing with knows their job, then it's none of my business if they smoke or enjoy a drink or two when off the clock.

Maria, I agree with you. What people do behind closed doors is their business!!!! As long as they are able to help us all get well, and to perform their jobs to the best of their ability, then they should be left alone!!!!! Yet another form of discrimination we have to deal with and shouldn't have to put up with!!!!

Maria; I am a firefighter, and a condition of our employment is No Smoking. Smokers have a higher rate of sickness, and the probibility of them using more sick time is higher. They smell like cig and smoke, which is offensive to some people, like wearing too much perfume or cologne. They probably take more breaks during work to go outside to light up. If this is a hiring condition, then the person need not work there. it would be wrong to lay-off a long time employee for it, but a new hire is subject to hiring guidelines.

I can see both sides of the issue and side with the hospital. There is nothing wrong with raising the standard. Maybe a smoking doctor or nurse will quit to save their job. Nothing unfair about that. Then they can enjoy their grandkids longer and have a better life.
All that being said, employees still have a choice, either comply or find another place to work, which shouldn't be to hard in the health care industry. Tough love is all it boils down to.

I want to make it very clear. I hate smoking. And I'm getting a hard time in the newsroom for this blog. But I stand by it. I think what you do in your own home is your business. If you go to work at this hospital and you don't bring your cigarettes, you don't smoke and you do your job, you should be allowed to work there.

Maria, we are told all the time what we can and can not do at our job. Just Tuesday, I was told to return a tie I had bought. It didn't pass job standards. If the rules say "No Smoking", then find a job elsewhere if you need to smoke. I grew up in a home that was smoke-filled. I am quite certain it killed my grandparents, literally. I get that it is legal for people to slowly kill themselves by sucking on death sticks, but it is legal, and withing rights, for the hospital to make it a hiring standard. Just one weatherman's opinion.

I do thinks it is wrong also.. what they do in thier own free time is thier business and ahould not affect the way they do thier job

I agree with the ban, how can hospital employees (nurses,doc's, ect.) care for your health when they dont care for their own health. Not only will it help the environment, but it will stop the bad influence its giving young people. I hope this ban goes world wide!

Maria,

The hospital sets the guide lines for their employees and as long as you want to work their and they’re paying you and paying for your insurance, smoking is a no, no. I also feel like you, if I was in need of a Doctor and the only Doctor who could save my life was a smoker, I wouldn’t care if he had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth SAVE ME!!!!!!

Why is it that insurance companies are able to charge you more for insurance than non smokers?

"But I stand by it. I think what you do in your own home is your business."

That is one quote I can not stand. So you wouldn't mind if your neighbor was growing weed in his/her home? Or smoking crack ?

I have to disagree with you on this one ...if it is a job requirement find placement else where.