Muscatine

Westgate Resorts, the largest private employer in Central Florida, has banned smoking and won't budge from a policy of not hiring smokers and firing employees who do smoke.



''When I found out it was legal to discriminate against smokers, I put the policy in place,'' Westgate president and CEO David Seigel said.

Seigel told Local 6 that the policy was prompted by the death of his close friend -- a heavy smoker who died of cancer.

''If you are too stupid to understand that smoking is going to kill you, then we are going to tell you that if you want to work for our company, you will not smoke,'' Seigel said.

Central Floridian Ava Bryant said she was called by a recruiter for Westgate and told not to come in for an interview because Westgate won't hire smokers.

''I call it discrimination,'' Bryant said. ''I'm not an avid smoker or a constant smoker. I just said I smoke. Sometimes I may pick up a cigarette and smoke.''

But Local 6 reporter Steven Cooper reported that at Westgate, ''sometimes'' is one time too many.

Seigel said his policy is cost effective and said since it went into effect, health insurance claims have gone down significantly -- making insurance more affordable for employees.

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''It may be something else that may infringe on their rights,'' Bryant said. ''So, how far are you going to go with it?''

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''Anything we can do that is legal and not discriminatory, we will do,'' Seigel said. ''If you are an alcoholic and we have the right to fire you, we will do so. And if you are obese and there is a way for us not to hire you or to fire you, we will do that, too.''

http://www.local6.com/news/14537611/detail.html

Is this going to far?

Peace

Nope.

Nope.

well..

His company, his choice.

If he doesn't want to hire smokers, he shouldn't have to. Firing existing employees who, other than smoking, might be outstanding employees, is a whole different story. I would suggest giving these current employees 30 days to comply with the new policy. If they want to stay employed, quit smoking.

What concerns me though, is at what point does it stop? When does he start firing people who simply have high-cholestrol, or are overweight? When does he fire an alcoholic (remember, that's a medical condition, and unlike smoking cessation, most insurance companies cover at least a portion of substance abuse treatment). ?

How do you enforce a policy like this? Do they take random urine or blood tests for nicotine? What if an employee or prospective employee doesn't smoke, but uses chewing tobacco, or nicotine gum?

I'm getting carried away, but it just seems a little extreme to start firing people that might have long-term employment with them.

Anyway, there's my opinion.

Always,
Lil

I respect both answers



even though Bigbrothers was a bit short.

I will let both of you know you are not alone. I have posted this on three sites and the feed back on the 3 sites is much of the same. That worries me.

We are not talking about what you do at work. This is your home life. Where should the eye of big brother stop? (no pun intented) I say they are walking a very thin line here. Yes Lil, if you're fat this company wants the right to fire you. As you know we all gain weight as we age, give birth, or other reasons. This acceptance of this discrimination will soon allow employers to ease drop on the home life, control what you eat, drink, do and say. It's scary. Where should it stop?

They've already set the standard you can't have a private life with smoking. What about eating? I can see great office conversation such as ''I stopped by Jen's place last night and she was eating chocolate''. Where does it stop? What country is this?

Peace