http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/workplaces.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://tobacco.ucsf.edu/bbc-lobbying-weaken-welsh-smokefree-regulations-yes-real http://tobacco.org/news/333570.html The Welsh Government has launched a consultation to amend the smokefree premises legislation to create an exemption that would allow allow performers to smoke in enclosed and partially enclosed spaces when filming for television or film. The moving force behind this is the BBC, which has lobbied the first minister in Wales, Carwyn Jones, to create this exemption claiming that productions have stayed in England where there is currently such an exemption in the smokefree regulations. Of all the crazy economic arguments I have heard for exposing people to secondhand smoke, this one takes the cake. Are we really to believe that the BBC has ignored the fact that it just opened a major new production center in Cardiff, Wales to take advantage of lower labor costs that exist in London just so they can favor actors generate secondhand smoke? I think not. Stanton Glantz blog raoul.walsh@newcastle.edu.au ( Submitted by sglantz on Thu, 2012-02-09 08:18 ) UK-Wales Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wickedlocal.com/ashland/news/x1085185365/Former-Ashland-Police-officer-wants-smoking-complaint-reopened http://tobacco.org/news/333545.html A former Ashland Police officer said yesterday that he has asked the department to re-open a 2009 complaint that accuses union president Greg Fawkes with smoking a cigar, a fireable offense. . . . The complaint against Fawkes, which was filed by retired Ashland officer Charles Garbarino and is accompanied by photos, alleges that Fawkes and other officers smoked cigars at a Hyannis clambake on May 27, 2009. Under Massachusetts General Law (Chapter 41, Section 101a), police officers and firefighters hired after 1988 may be fired for smoking any type of tobacco product. Garbarino said yesterday that he resubmitted a request to Police Chief Scott Rohmer on Jan. 31 that the 2009 complaint be re-opened. "This problem that's going on now could have been taken care of in 2009," Garbarino said. Wicked Local lkrantz@wickedlocal.com (Laura Krantz/Daily News staff The MetroWest Daily News) Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.statesman.com/news/local/state-employees-not-fessing-up-to-tobacco-use-2144538.html http://tobacco.org/news/333189.html Last year, Texas lawmakers had a good idea (hey, one out of a bazillion isn't bad). The idea, converted into law, is a "tobacco cessation" program for state workers and retirees, including higher health insurance premiums for tobacco users and coverage for tobacco cessation drugs. It went into effect Jan. 1. State employees and retirees had from Nov. 7 to Dec. 9 to report if they or any family members covered by the plan are tobacco users (defined as using tobacco products more than five times in the previous three months). The additional monthly premium for tobacco users is $30 per person, with a maximum of $90 per family. (Best footnote on the Employees Retirement System Q-and-A about the program: "The charge for a child is the same regardless of how many children in the household use tobacco." Sure, junior, go ahead and light up. We're already paying for your sister.) So what we have is a self-reporting system. That always goes well, doesn't it? Please raise your hand if you want to pay more. Last year, the Legislative Budget Board -- working with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 18 percent of adult Texans use tobacco products -- guesstimated there are 74,150 tobacco users covered by the state health plan. ERS board members were told at an August meeting the agency "will depend on members to certify that they use tobacco. A special campaign will be conducted this fall to communicate the tobacco information." The special campaign was held, and the sign-ups began. But somehow, as of mid-January, only 20,460 state employees or retirees or their covered dependents were signed up. That's 53,690 short of the projection. . . . I like the A to Q12, which asks, "What if my doctor says I can't quit?" Lucky you. You can keep enjoying tobacco without paying the additional premium if you can find a doc to declare you have "an uncontrolled health factor, such as nicotine addiction." . . . So please, dear state employees, fess up if you use tobacco. Don't make us have to come around and take photos outside the front door during smoke breaks. Austin American-Statesman kherman@statesman.com (Ken Herman, Commentary) Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-01-29/Cleveland-Clinic-not-hiring-smokers/52873896/1 http://tobacco.org/news/332850.html Forty percent of all premature deaths are due to forces within our control, such as obesity, sedentary lifestyles and poor dietary choices. One factor, however, rises above all of those — smoking. . . . does it make sense to support a habit that leads to disease, disability and death? At Cleveland Clinic, we don't believe so. That's why we adopted a smoke-free campus in 2005 and why, in 2007, we went further, deciding to no longer hire smokers. . . . If that sounds harsh to some, consider that cigarette smoke contains hundreds of chemicals and compounds that are toxic and at least 69 that cause cancer. These chemicals travel throughout the body, wreaking havoc in the form of inflammation, cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and a weakened immune system. To ignore this would be to undermine our commitment to health and wellness, which includes providing a healthy environment for our employees, visitors and patients. Plus, the policy has not proved to be an overwhelming obstacle for job applicants. Since it was instituted, less than 2% of job offers — about 300 out of 20,000 — have been rescinded due to positive nicotine tests. At Cleveland Clinic, we have a unique perspective on the burden of chronic disease. We not only treat disease, but we also play a vital role in educating patients and employees about lifestyle choices. It is only right to practice what we preach. Banning smoking and smokers is a crucial part of that, and part of a broader theme that includes banning transfats, offering free gym memberships, removing sugar-laden drinks from campus vending machines, and rewarding employees who make healthy decisions with lower insurance premiums. Ultimately, such efforts will allow Cleveland Clinic to be a model of healthy living, as we strive to shift the national focus from providing "sick" care to promoting "health" care. USA Today letters@usatoday.com (Paul Terpeluk) Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-01-29/not-hiring-smokers-privacy/52874348/1?csp=34news http://tobacco.org/news/332849.html Baylor Health Care System, one of the Dallas area's largest employers, has taken several savvy steps in its fight against smoking. . . . Treating smoking, in essence, like illegal drug use takes Baylor and an increasing number of other employers down a dangerous road, one that extends far too deeply into the private lives of prospective workers. . . . At least health care providers can assert that the bans are related to their medical missions. But what about other companies? Scotts Co., which makes lawn and garden supplies, made headlines in 2006 when it was sued by a new hire who was fired after testing positive for nicotine; Scotts' policy was upheld by a federal court in Boston. Atlanta-based Georgia Power stopped hiring smokers in 2009. Even the Hollywood Casino in Toledo, Ohio, set to open this year, tells smokers they need not apply for employment. This means House Speaker John Boehner, a smoker who is second in line to the presidency, couldn't get a job at a casino in his home state. In a nation where 55% of workers get their insurance through their employers, and where employers' insurance costs have more than doubled in just a decade, companies have ample reason to cut costs and keep employees healthy. They also deserve great latitude in hiring, which makes legislation problematic. But intruding this deeply into people's private lives raises questions that bear scrutiny. Companies can charge smokers more for health coverage or ban smoking on the job. But punishing people for using a legal product on their own time crosses a troubling line. USA Today letters@usatoday.com Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2012/01/27/for-casino-workers-smoking-is-no-dice.html http://tobacco.org/news/332841.html Ameet Patel, general manager of the Hollywood Casino Columbus, said applicants who test positive for nicotine will be disqualified, and workers will be subject to random tests during employment. Penn National’s policy will mean no tobacco use on or off the job for its 3,200 workers, and Ohio’s indoor smoking ban means customers will have to step outside before lighting up. Penn National is joining the ranks of thousands of companies and hospitals that refuse to hire smokers in the hope of curbing medical costs and encouraging a healthier work force. Patel, a 22-year veteran of the casino world, called it an unusual if not unprecedented step in an industry where a vast majority of customers are smokers. “It is a very, very big change,” he said. The Toledo and Columbus casinos will be the only two of Penn’s 21 properties that ban tobacco use among employees, Patel said. Columbus Dispatch http://cricket.bamboocricket.com/ersweb/chatClientLogin?email=dispatch_chat@inbound2.bamboocricket.com ( Laura A. Bischoff DAYTON DAILY NEWS ) Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/newmanager/article2840272.ece?ref=wl_features http://tobacco.org/news/332824.html In several organisations, there are unofficial smoking zones despite the ban on smoking in workplaces. In many, ironically, these zones also display the 'No Smoking Area - Smoking here is an offence' sign prominently. Someone in the top rungs of one such organisation notes that since there are several smokers in the company -- and exiting the premises to smoke and return would entail a lot of time -- the unofficial smoking areas (on the staircase, behind the building, etc.) help. He contends that they are harmless, as long as they are located away from non-smokers. Business Line blthenewmanager@gmail.com India Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.lvrj.com/business/two-new-casinos-in-ohio-say-they-won-t-hire-smokers-138252164.html?ref=164 http://tobacco.org/news/332797.html Smokers won't be hired at new casinos in Columbus and Toledo, a ban that's been adopted in other industries as employers try to hold down health care costs. Job applicants for 3,200 positions at the two casinos being developed by Penn National Gaming Inc. will not be considered if they smoke, chew tobacco or use nicotine patches, according to the company. Applicants will be screened, and any testing positive for nicotine will be disqualified. Random nicotine testing will be done on workers after they are employed, but the policy on that phase is still being developed, Bob Tenenbaum, Penn National's Ohio spokesman, told The Associated Press. Ohio state law prohibits any smoking in public places, including casinos, but Penn National's policy will mean its Ohio casino workers will not be allowed to use tobacco on or off the job. Associated Press webmaster@reviewjournal.com Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.law360.com/articles/299027/from-smoke-free-to-smoker-free-workplaces http://tobacco.org/news/332786.html it should come as no surprise that smoking has risen to the top of the “to do” list for many human resource departments in the New Year. Following the lead of several large hospital systems, a variety of employers are now contemplating the bold decision to ban the hiring of smokers. Citing a multitude of reasons to implement such policies, ranging from reduced healthcare costs to the personal aspirations of executives, this shift — from smoke-free to smoker-free — has prompted sharp debate regarding employers’ perceived intrusion into the private lives of employees. The transition to a smoker-free workplace is fraught with a variety of legal and practical obstacles. In addition to a striking body of federal law that imposes a veritable minefield of potential liability for the intrepid employer, many individual states have legislation on the books that prevent employer scrutiny of smoking habits. The following discussion is intended to address a few of the federal laws employers should consider in the uncharted territory of smoker-free workplaces. Law360 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120126/OPINION03/301260024/Smoking-Focus-workers-quitting-not-hiring-ban http://tobacco.org/news/332708.html The idea that businesses should not hire tobacco users may look good on paper, but it doesn't provide a solution to the larger issue: ending addiction to a deadly substance. A Jan. 12 article in The Tennessean, "More employers refuse to hire tobacco users," reported on the growing trend . . . Larger companies should consider contacting the American Lung Association about developing a series of on-site "Freedom from Smoking" classes in the workplace. I believe a company's tobacco policy must recognize that we're dealing with tobacco dependency, a powerful addiction that threatens the health of the individual and, yes, contributes to rising health-care costs in Tennessee. We don't solve this by being exclusionary; we solve this tobacco crisis by developing proven, benevolent cessation programs that help Tennesseans live a healthier, better life. The Tennessean Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/smokers-not-eligible-for-jobs-in-some-ohio-casinos-1318676.html?cxtype=rss_local-news http://tobacco.org/news/332677.html Job seekers who smoke, chew tobacco or even use nicotine patches won't be considered for the 3,200 casino jobs in Toledo and Columbus when Penn National starts filling positions later this year. Hollywood Casino Columbus General Manager Ameet Patel said applicants who test positive for nicotine will be disqualified and workers will be subject to random tests during employment. Penn National's policy will mean no tobacco use on or off the job for their 3,200 workers and Ohio's indoor smoking ban means customers will have to step outside before lighting up. Penn National is joining the ranks of thousands of companies and hospitals that refuse to hire smokers in the hopes of curbing medical costs and encouraging a healthier workforce. Patel, a 22-year veteran of the casino world, called it an unusual if not unprecedented step in an industry where a vast majority of customers are smokers. "It is a very, very big change," he said. The Toledo and Columbus casinos will be the only two of Penn's 21 properties that ban tobacco use among employees, Patel said. Dayton Daily News laura.bischoff@coxinc.com ( Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau ) Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120125/HEALTH/201250349 http://tobacco.org/news/332638.html Charles Young, a 37-year smoker who quit seven months ago, doubts Gov. Jack Markell's planned ban on smoking outside state office buildings will have the desired effect of getting employees to kick the habit. As with any form of prohibition, Young said, "they're going to do it anyway." Still, the Division of Revenue employee recognizes the potential savings to taxpayers. "I know since I quit, I'm more productive because I'm not out here smoking," said Young, who works in the Carvel State Building in downtown Wilmington, where dozens of workers huddle outside the entrances throughout the day to light up on their 15-minute breaks. Markell is targeting their habit in his quest to slow the growing $1 billion annual health care bill for state workers, retirees and Medicaid recipients. Combined, they make up 40 percent of the state's population. But the planned smoking ban, which can be implemented without a change in law, is already generating grumblings among state employees who smoke. Wilmington News Journal clivengood@delawareonline.com ( Written by CHAD LIVENGOOD The News Journal) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2012-01-24/38999/Company_makes_smoking_employees_work_longer_hours http://tobacco.org/news/332628.html A company in Carinthia, Austria is making its smoking employees work longer hours. The car supplier, Mahle are demanding that smokers sign in and out of their cigarette breaks and make the time up at the end of the day. The company reportedly loses around one million Euros every year as a result of the regular smoking breaks taken by their employees. Those who go to smoke outside of the official break time are now checked in and out of the building. Austrian Times Austria Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2012/01/23/tobaccocontrol-2011-050203.abstract?papetoc http://tobacco.org/news/332613.html Background In the absence of comprehensive smoking bans in public places, bars and nightclubs have the highest concentrations of secondhand tobacco smoke, posing a serious health risk for workers in these venues. Objective To assess exposure of bar and nightclub employees to secondhand smoke, including non-smoking and smoking employees. Methods Between 2007 and 2009, the authors recruited approximately 10 venues per city and up to five employees per venue in 24 cities in the Americas, Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa. Air nicotine concentrations were measured for 7 days in 238 venues. . . . Conclusions Occupational exposure to secondhand smoke, assessed by air nicotine, resulted in elevated concentrations of hair nicotine among non-smoking and smoking bar and nightclub employees. The high levels of airborne nicotine found in bars and nightclubs and the contribution of this exposure to employee hair nicotine concentrations support the need for legislation measures that ensure complete protection from secondhand smoke in these venues. Tobacco Control Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT http://www.middletownjournal.com/lifestyle/cop-fired-for-violating-citys-non-smoking-policy-1317262.html http://tobacco.org/news/332537.html NEWBERN, Tenn. -- A Tennessee police department says it has fired an officer after 17 years on the force because he repeatedly smoked cigarettes inside the precinct in violation of the city's no smoking policy. Newbern police Sgt. James Bishop was terminated last week. A 2007 city policy prohibits smoking inside all municipal offices and buildings. . . . Dunivant said he continued to get complaints about Bishop smoking indoors and was forced to fire him. Associated Press Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT