British Expatriate Network

Quit Smoking or Quit Your Job, U.S. Company Says

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=...smoking_dc

Rather worrying, n'est pas? How long until someone proposes a company-sactioned diet or cologne? These people only own me for 12 hours a day. The rest of that time is mine. If I'm not on the clock, you don't own me. Leave my smoke breaks alone. :evil:

Yes, one does wonder where it will end. I think all 200 of them should walk out, the overweight, thin, the tall, the blonde, the non smoking, and the spliff smoking.

I don't mind the pee tests so much as the "I'm going to have to take a small sample of your hair close to the root" routine. Takes months for that stupid tuft to grow out.

That guy's a fascist.

I don't smoke, but as a fatass, I'm sure I'd be on this guy's hit list. I don't often say this, but I hope somebody sues him.

He'd do well to remember where he is. Lawsuits are only one of many things American workers are known to bring to the workplace bargaining table. If he's not careful, he'll end up on sombody elses's hit list.

Although if the company pays medical insurance and has to pay more for you because you smoke......

Than they ned to pass that cost on to you. They don't own you. They just rent you for most of your life.

Wonder how far one would get if one insisted employees were not allowed to own firearms?

I guess that depends on when you insist. If he's drawing the bead on you with the shotgun and you're a healthy runner, I'll say five feet.

boom boom

:lol:

The case sets a disturbing precendent - as has been said, your employer does not own you - they shouldn't be able to control other aspects of your life. Sadly this is a reflection of the state of employment rights in the US - and the fact that many employers do seem to think they own employees - and have minimal respect for them. It is also a reflect of the healthcare crisis - employers are finding it increacingly difficult to cover insurance costs and are becoming desperate in they methods of making ends meet.

As to gun control, I don't have a link, but the issue is already live. Many employers have issued workplace bans on firearms ( not surprising really) but some have extended it to the parking lots, meaning that even if State law permits keeping a gun in your car - you can't if you want to park it on company property.

Needless to say the NRA claims this to be a breach of the Second Ammendment. Needless to say they havn't challenged it in the Courts - principally because it isn't and they know it. :roll:

It does?
Michigan as far as I am aware is an at will employer state. They can pretty much can your arse for owt.

So is MA - but that wasn't my point.

My point (and that of others) is where does the employer's legitimate interest end?

What it you employer belongs to a religious group and says come pray with me or your fired?

What if they try to control who you vote for (as happened in some cases in the last elections)?

What if... well fill the blanks with your own examples. My employers can determine what I do at work. They can fire me for what I do outside work that may affect their employment of me. Should they be able to determine what I do outside work that has absolutely no impact on them?

Wither civil rights if a few well connected republican businessmen can tell us what to eat, drink, read, watch on TV etc.

well I agree,

land of the free

if the employee is on a unpaid break and outside of a working area that will effect other employees he she has a *right *to do as they wish .

As far as guns in the parking lot I agree with the employer on that one .

to bring a instument to the work place (a gun ) either inside the premises or in the parking lot could present a danger to others employees , and as the parking of your car on private property(assuming the parking lot is company owned ) is privilege granted to you by the employer he /she has a *right *to attached restictions to it .

there is also the problem of responsability of the company should the gun be involved in a incident that results in injury / loss of life to a fellow employee .

next time you go to a sports event look at the rules and see what items are banned from the premises even innocuous items like unbrella ,s cus they could do harn to others the contitution my give a citizen the * right* to own a gun ,but the owner of the premises has a * right * to which also should not be infringed ..the IRA are wrong on this one .IMO



Many employers ban t/shirts ,emblems , hats that are contraversal in any way from there premises . thing like , vote bush , gay pride , smoke dope ,jesus saves on t shirts are statements that should be keep outside of a environment where others may be offended by them . )

It's your grandad's government. Surely i'm not the only one who remembers when IBM( often known as I've been moved cos they thought nothing of uprooting entire families for a year at a time)back in the old days when facial hair was NOT allowed. No Beard, no moustaches. Hair had to be above the collar, ears showing. Follow the rules or there's the door.
Ah, the good old days when a stain on a dress and a good pay packet where the norm!