Are smokers tired of being controlled yet? Over a legal product????
Posted on 09/30/2006 8:41:28 AM PDT by SheLion
GRAND RAPIDS -- Spectrum Health and Saint Mary's Health Care will require all their employees to not use tobacco at any time during their work shift beginning January 1.
The staffs of both hospitals will need to arrive without smelling of smoke, and they can't use any tobacco products until they leave hospital property after their shift.
Metro Health is also joining in the Smoke-Free Work Day Every Day campaign.
In 2003, the Grand Rapids hospitals became the first in the country to jointly declare their hospital campuses smoke-free. Today, more than 30 Michigan hospitals have smoke-free campuses.
This takes it a step further.
The three hospitals are working together to help employees quit the habit between now and the first of the year. The hospitals said the main reason for making this decision was to improve patient care.
"Everyday our staff tell patients who use tobacco to quit," said Bill Rietscha, Vice President of Facilities for Spectrum Health. "We can't say that with credibility while smelling of tobacco ourselves."
Tom Karel, the Vice President of Human Resources for Saint Mary's, echoed that. "We have delivered this message to each person who walks in a door at Saint Mary's, and this is the next step in a long term effort to ensure the health of our employees, patients, visitors and our entire community."
Among the other reasons the hospitals cited were the health risks to their employees and the reduced productivity related to smoking.
Not everyone is thrilled with the plan. Midge Birdsall has worked in health care for more than 30 years. She knows smoking isn't good for her, but she said the decision to quit should be hers and hers alone.
"I'm not doing something illegal so I have a problem with them telling me how to run my lifestyle when it's not affecting my work," she said. "I'm not sure how they can tell me I can't go off campus on my break. I guess I'll find out January 1."
24 Hour News 8 talked with a local labor law attorney who said the hospitals can fire employees who disobey the rules.
It's a growing trend. In January 2005, KVCC banned smoking for all new full-time employees. Lansing-based Weyco, a company that administers health benefits, also went smoke-free. Several employees left who refused to take a test to determine if they're using tobacco.
Are smokers tired of being controlled yet? Over a legal product????
What is the position of the hospital with respect to AIDS? Can a doctor or nurse have HIV and still be employed?
Once they manage to force smokers to quit by way of taxation they'll simply turn their attention to something else.
Try requiring workers to be HIV free and watch how fast your ass gets sued.
Fascist alert! Michiganistan moves up on my list of states to avoid. Just behind Mass. and California now, unfortunately I have to go to Boston on business often.
The legacy of decades of Democrat corruption and organized crime control of government in the 'common-wealth' (what a HUGE LIE that term is) of Massholia is awe inspiring. I imagine it's like visiting a Soviet republic at the hight of the Cold War.
No kidding.
I hope it's all of the bicycles (the real expensive enthusiast ones). Add to that the cute little tight spandex pants and "Aliens" helmets all of these 'he-men' seem to want to wear when they "commune with nature" (actually, most times in the height of morning or afternoon traffic, it seems).
Everybody must be controlled!!
"Everyday our staff tell patients who use tobacco to quit who are overweight to begin a diet and exercise program," said Bill Rietscha, Vice President of Facilities for Spectrum Health. "We can't say that with credibility while smelling of tobacco ourselves when our health care workers are waddling blobs of cellulite."
Fascist alert!
Here's another existential threat to worry about while obsessing about health.
Over my dead body.
There were negotiations? I didn't think so.
Sure, it's not pure Fascism but I'm not sure it's not something worse. You may think you are exempt because you don't smoke but all an organization has to do is determine there is a behavior you DO partaticipate in that they don't like and you are out on your butt, too.
Because someone has the right to do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. That runs both ways.
There's nothing wrong with Michigan...just stay out of the blue counties. Mainly Wayne, Washtenaw and now, whatever county Grand Rapids is in.
In the case of the Western side of Michigan: The morons have been moving up from Chicago and bringing their Liberal nonsense with them.
Smokefree Michigan uber alles.
Thank you! But I guess you can't "smell" aids, so it isn't an issue. ~/s
Heh! They also skrooed the non smokers with this.
They'll have to work longer shifts to accomodate the lack of personnel.
This is really ridiculous. What adult today needs more parental supervision? Smoking isn't good for us, but it's legal. These control freaks don't like the smell so they are forbidding their employees from smoking? Trying to help them quit my butt!
When a smoker goes into a hospital in Maine, they are slapped with the PATCH! Whether the smoker wants it or not!
Unlike Weyco and Scott's at least it is only during their shifts...........they are not being threatedned with being fired for what they do outside of work.
Additionally these are private employers, it is not the government doing it, so while I don't like such a policy, I have to respect their right to make the rules of employee conduct during working hours.
The answer is Grand Rapids is in Kent county. And yeah, it's starting to get a little too politically correct around here.
Well, states can't balance their budgets without smoker's tax dollars. They spew they want smoke free yet they use cigarette taxes to balance their budgets. They talk out of both sides of their filthy mouths.
I think all smokers should start rolling their own. A heck of a lot cheaper and no big taxes. And all the grocery stores and Smoke Shops in town sell bags of tobacco and the filtered tubes and the rolling machines. It sure paid off for me!
Fascist alert! Michiganistan moves up on my list of states to avoid. Just behind Mass. and California now, unfortunately I have to go to Boston on business often.
Don't forget to add MAINE to your list!
The legacy of decades of Democrat corruption and organized crime control of government in the 'common-wealth' (what a HUGE LIE that term is) of Massholia is awe inspiring. I imagine it's like visiting a Soviet republic at the hight of the Cold War.
Defend Freedom - Start Smoking
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I hate to say this, but the staff in our hospitals are pretty hefty! They will be next on the agenda. LOSE WEIGHT OR ELSE!
Here's another existential threat to worry about while obsessing about health.
Oh I know it. So much going on in the world that is such high priority, yet these anti-smoking idiots have tunnel vision. All they care about is to get people from smoking.
If we are blown to bits one day, it won't matter one iota if we ever smoked or not!
As if they don't already! Nursing staffs are in short demand today I hear. Pity.
The three hospitals are working together to help employees quit the habit between now and the first of the year. The hospitals said the main reason for making this decision was to improve patient care.
Yes, but do you realize how miserable they are going to make it on the employees who smoke? Trying to coerce them into quitting before the 1st of the year?
LOL! Agreed.
Private Company? Should have all rights to say if their employees can smoke...same as any other private business...
That would be Kent County. The geniuses on the city commission are about to toughen smoking laws throughout the city too.
Well, I respect what you say. But what is next? Fat Classes? It just never ends.
And I am sure most educated smokers today would never smoke around the kids. (Did I say that?)
A lot of people are rolling their own now. My cousin says rolling his own runs to about $11 a carton. He buys the filter tubes and has a machine that rolls 2 at a time. He's pretty good at pumping out a carton of cigarettes in about 20 minutes.
That's too bad. We used to look as the Western side of Michigan as a place to run to when it got too bad over here near Lake Erie as far as Liberalism.
Is Grand Rapids where there was so much gang trouble a few years ago, or was that Battle Creek?
Is your hospitol perfume-free?
I guess I should have explained why I say that. Anything that makes people unhappy at election time, they tend to take it out on the folks in office.
In Washtenaw county it's illegal to smoke in any place of business and there's a push to make it illegal on the property of any place of business.
I'm glad you brought that up. I can roll a carton for a little under $8 dollars. I love the savings.
Can't stand the high taxes?
Afraid to order off of the Internet?
Then start rolling your own!!! I find everything but the machine downtown at the local Smoke Shop. Also, Rite Aid and grocery stores also sell the bags of tobacco and the filtered tubes.
I roll out a beautiful carton for a little under $8 dollars. Premiums in my state are now up to $45-$50 a carton. Can you imagine the money I have saved over the past 4 years since I now roll my own? It's mind boggling.
under $50.00
Check StuffYourOwn for prices on tobacco
$1.99 for 200 filtered tubes
Make your own cigarettes for as low as $6.99 per Carton! Smoke Quality FILTERED cigarettes that you make yourself using cigarette tubes (like a cigarette without the Cigarette tobacco), our cigarette making machines, and our "roll your own" cigarette tobacco.
-Stop Paying High Cigarette Taxes
-So Much Easier than "Roll Your Own" cigarettes!
and
As I said, I don't like it.....but they are not being given an ultimatuum to quit or lose their jobs, the way Weyco and Scott's did.
I remember when New York City was forced into a smoking ban. The people in New Jersey were yelling over the water "Hurry to our side. Hurry to our side!"
Then, alas, the anti's got their hooks into New Jersey and they aren't doing too well either.
I understand your position. I agree with it. In the case of my hospital, this isn't a law, just something the hospital decided to do. As I understand it, there won't be any kind of punishment for parents who violate the rule. They can be smoking right outside the door and will just be made aware of the rule. If they continue to smoke, no one will do anything. I'm sure employees will get into some sort of trouble if caught, though.
I don't think bars, restaurants, or other establishments should be required to ban smoking or any of that nonsense. I do think in a hospital setting, it is beneficial. Again, though, this isn't a law, just a decision made by the hospital.
Most stores carry all the roll your own fixins now anyway. I rolled my own before I quit. It was an easy step for me because my grandfather always rolled his own for as far back as I can remember.
It's going to get really miserable for them, Gabz. I don't like it either because it's just more control. But, being a private venue, they can do what they want. Sad.....
Which is why, while I don't have to like it, I can't argue with the decision of a private business.
Which is a rub when it comes to the government enforced bans.........all businesses have always had the opportunity to go entirely smoke-free, but very few now have an option to be enitrely smoking, or in many places even half and half.
The one bad thing about this is: I don't think I would want a surgeon to operate on me if he is wanting a cigarette. Know what I mean? ouch!
The hospital is not perfume free. I think I had been told when hired that we shouldn't wear perfume because of patient allergies.
I think that in this business of helping sick kids, people should use common sense. I said in another post that this is not a law, just something the hospital decided to do.
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