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For me, the "hiring practice" Sean described (below) is where it starts to
border on unethical, IMO.
If the company policy is to not hire smokers, they should include in the job
posting a notice to the effect that "XYZ Company is a smoke-free
environment" or some such. This would let smokers know up-front that they
weren't welcome.
Ferreting out the "vice" in the roundabout way you describe is like asking
someone if they've stopped beating their wife. There's no way to win.
FWIW, I've known plenty of smokers who work in smoke-free companies, don't
smoke around the building, etc. (like John, smoking isn't illegal around
here, but I can't think of too many places where it's considered
"acceptable"). And if the argument is "they're an insurance risk," I
believe several others have already listed plenty of other "habits" people
have that also lead to poor health, so I just don't buy that one. (What
kind of notice would have to be posted with the job description..."only
Barbie/Ken dolls need apply").
Dropping the thread (and running away),
Lyn
(who works in a smoke-free, donut-ridden environment, where no one knows how
to make decent coffee because before I came here no one drank it)
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Brierley
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 9:42 AM
...<snip>...
And, actually, practice was to work "smoking" into the
conversation to actively determine whether candidates
smoked, so they could be weeded out.
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