Des Moines Hospital refuses to hire smokers

As I read headlines, I often bookmark articles that peak my interest, then go back when I have time and write my blog about them. This article is from June, but I still think it's important to get the information out there. According to a news report I found on KLEM, Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines has made a new policy effective July 1, 2011 that they will no longer hire smokers. All persons applying for jobs will be required to be drug tested for the usuals, but now also for nicotine. If an applicant fails, they will be thrown out of the hiring pool and can reapply in six months, provided that they are then smoke free and pass the drug test. This policy will not affect current employees.

The reason behind this new policy is that Mercy would like their employees to emulate the same healthy behaviors they preach to their patients and families. Human Resources Director Kevin Elsberry says the policy isn't discriminatory because smokers are not a "protected class" in Iowa.

Now, I'm not a smoker, but I do find myself offended by this policy. I have no problem with the hospital saying you can't smoke in the hospital or so many feet from the doors and/or you must wash hands before working after smoking. A similar policy went in to effect about five years ago, and of course is now state mandated. The benefits of this are quite obvious, as a hospital deals with all types of things ranging from oxygen to other flammables, to working with people who may have an intolerance of nicotine. HOWEVER to say you're not going to hire somebody because they are doing something perfectly legal and it does not inhibit them from performing their job in anyway is almost downright biassed to me.

Just because smokers are not a "protected class" doesn't mean they shouldn't have workers rights. How soon will it be before they say fat people don't live healthy lives, and those that have high blood pressure shouldn't be hired, or maybe those people that drive fast and therefore are endangering people on the road shouldn't be hired because they are all not model citizens? Do their board members and top of staff give as generously to their medical plans as the janitors they employ? I could go round and round.

Even if you can bypass the legal ramifications of it, has it occurred to the hospital that maybe their patients are encouraged by people who have gone through the same problems that they are now experiencing. Not being a smoker, I don't know how hard it is to quit, but I have heard it is not easy, and many people I know that have quit, have started again - even after years of stopping. But I do know that it seems like if you have a support group - someone who knows what you're going through - it can help you get through it too. If people don't see anybody that's like them, it may become like gym phobia - all these people are to perfect, and I don't want to be judged by perfect people, so I will go elsewhere.

The next question for Mercy is do they plan to retest all these individuals constantly and can they be fired for their nicotine use? I'm sure it is possible, though it doesn't say in this article. Current employees will not be tested and fired. I suppose they are "grandfathered" into this new policy.

Bottom line though - a company should not be able to refuse hire of a person that is living their life legally and is physically and mentally fit to get the job done. Even if there is no legal ramifications there should be moral ones.