Question

With medical costs rising 10 to 15 percent per year, one of the members of your Board of Directors mentioned that some companies are now refusing to hire smokers and the board should discuss this option at the next month's meeting. Nationally, about 6,000 companies refuse to hire smokers. Weyco, an employee benefits company in Okemos, Michigan, requires all applicants to take a nicotine test. Weyco's CFO says, "We're not saying people can't smoke. We're just saying they can't smoke and work here. As an employee-benefits company, we need to take a leadership role in helping people understand the cost impact of smoking." The Cleveland Clinic, one of the top hospitals in the United States, doesn't hire smokers. Paul Terpeluk, the director of corporate and employee health, says all applicants are tested for nicotine and 250 people have lost job opportunities because they smoke. The Massachusetts Hospital Association also refuses to hire smokers. The company's CEO says, "Smoking is a personal choice, and as an employer, I have a personal choice within the law about whom we hire

Answer 1

Ans 2) Board of Directors Questions for Discussion

• How can smoking effect the employees work performance and health?
• What are the effective consequences in hiring smokers in a company?
• Will there be a discriminatory environment?
• Will the company be able to bear the increase in medical cost as a result of hiring smokers?
• What can be the ethical rules if employees with smoking habit are hired?
• Should there be some strict restrictions for smokers to not smoke during work time?

Ans 3) This is an issue of ethics since smoking is an ethically wrong behavior which can badly affect the health of an individual. Thus, promoting smoking habits among employees is an ethically wrong practice which should be strictly prohibited.

Ans 4) No, this issue cannot be viewed as discrimination. Discrimination is something which differentiates people on the basis of their religion, origin, color or sex which is ethically wrong. While the above issue is whether to hire smokers or not.

Since we know the harmful impact of smoking it can be clearly said that smoking is a immoral practice which will not not only ruin an employee's health but will also affect the overall performance of an organization.

Ans 1) As an in charge of American Express, I would suggest the board that instead not hiring smokers some ethical rules and guidelines should be framed under which it should be mentioned that smoking during working hours is a punishable offence and will lead to an employee's termination. Also, I would suggest to organize health campaigns withing organization to spread awareness among employees about the harmful effects of smoking and other such immoral activities.