Smoke Nazis Fire Employees (WuzzaDem)
Four employees of a health care company have been fired for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes.
Weyco Inc., a health benefits administrator based in Okemos, Mich., adopted a policy Jan. 1 that allows employees to be fired if they smoke, even if the smoking happens after business hours or at home.
Company founder Howard Weyers has said the anti-smoking rule was designed to shield the firm from high health care costs. "I don't want to pay for the results of smoking," he said.
The rule led one employee to quit before the policy was adopted. Four others were fired when they balked at the smoking test.
They're firing people for what they do in their own homes? I assume the ACLU is speeding to the scene as I write. Oh, that's right, it's because 'Howard' wants to shield his company from high health care costs.
Well, I guess that's it for Bob in accounting, who likes to make his own 'Super-Mac Smackdown' sandwich by stuffing a Quarter Pounder between two Big Macs.
Or Rita the receptionist, who says that every night is 'partay night', and could drink Otis (Hello? The guy from Mayberry) under the table.
Maybe 'Howard' likes to have a drink or two (or three, or four) with his steak (rare), so even though his liver and colon could end up emptying the company coffers, he doesn't mind certain personal habits that can drive up health care costs. Hey, sounds fair to me. (In case you were wondering, it doesn't really seem fair to me, I was being sarcastic). |
