Poll of the Day > U-Haul will NO LONGER Hire OR Interview people who SMOKE or VAPE!!!

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U-Haul says they will NO LONGER HIRE or even INTERVIEW people who SMOKE or VAPE in more than 20 states to create a "healthier workplace" environment!!

The truck and trailer rental company said it approved a new nicotine-free policy that is to go into effect February 1st as the company says it is legally allowed to discriminate against smokers

21 states will be affected including Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachussetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington

It is legal in those 21 states for employers to considere tobacco use when making hiring decisions as they are also allowed to legally test people for nicotine use

Meanwhile, 29 states havelaws that protect nicotine users from being discriminated against for smoking or vamping

The company employs 4000 people in Arizona where the company is based

People hired before the policy goes into effect aren't affected

U-Haul says they want a nicotine-free hiring policy to create a healthy corporate culture as it also decreases healthcare costs

For current employees who smoke they encourage them to waive a required wellness fee as they aren't required to pay a health care insurance premium for tobacco users

The company said they made strides to encourage health and wellness including implementing a new fitness centre and machines for employees to workout

But Dr.. Michael Siegel said this new policy is "terribly misguided" and sets a bad precedent who said "In public health, we try to encourage people to engage in healthy behaviour, but we do not punish them and stigmatize them when they don't. It punishes exactly the people who should be rewarded by having accomplished this difficult feat. This sets a terrible precedent because it means that employers can discriminate against any group of people they want,such as obese people. The exact reasoning that U-Haul is citing in promoting this policy would also justify refusing to hire people who are obese, or people who use legal marijuana or any number of other health behaviours".

Alaska Airlines also had the policy since 1985 to address healthcare cost and health consequences

Do you think cigarette smokers and vapers should be discriminated against?

https://i.imgur.com/cIND0FJ.jpg
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You can already discriminate against people who use legal marijuana, no idea what this doctor is talking about.

Ive been unable to apply to certain jobs because I have a beard.

You dont like it, stop smoking.

I don't agree but it's not my company.
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Full Throttle posted...

Do you support discriminating against hiring smokers or vapers?

Nope. As providing they follow the rules in place it makes no difference to their job performance. I assume to get a "healthier workplace" they will also not hire obese folk, allow unhealthy food on the premises and put less stress on their employees.

TerranceC posted...

You dont like it, stop smoking.

Ironically that's what most folk are trying to do when vaping. Also addictions are a thing. Quitting smoking and vaping isn't a overnight fix.

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TerranceC posted...

You can already discriminate against people who use legal marijuana, no idea what this doctor is talking about.

Ive been unable to apply to certain jobs because I have a beard.

You dont like it, stop smoking.

That's only due to federal law.
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wwinterj25 posted...

Also addictions are a thing.

Just people who have low self-discipline.

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RedPixel posted...

Just people who have low self-discipline.

Like you did when you made this post?

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RedPixel posted...

Just people who have low self-discipline.

Imagine chalking up addiction to low self-discipline.

That may be how it started, but otherwise that's an absurdly shortsighted statement.

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A lot of companies around here don't allow smoking on company property, not even in the parking lot or sidewalk. It's hilarious to see people standing outside across the street trying to smoke when it's -15F.

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I think that's incredibly stupid, but I also doubt that it will be seriously enforceable.

I smoke cigars, maybe once or twice a week. Almost nobody I know in person knows that I do. How would your employer ever find out unless you told them?

Secondly, my infrequent cigar smoking will almost certainly have no impact on my health (knock on wood). Meanwhile, their policy hasn't excluded employing people that are overweight, which has a MUCH more serious impact on health than enjoying a stogie a few times per month. If they were serious about the health of their employees, they would focus on that as well.

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faramir77 posted...

I smoke cigars, maybe once or twice a week. Almost nobody I know in person knows that I do. How would your employer ever find out unless you told them?

Tests apparently. Unless they plan on testing every employer every day it seems a hard thing to follow.

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Imagine working for U-haul.. LMAO

I could agree, I mean - you don't want people hotboxing into other people's furniture.

Just drive on edibles, man!

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So many disgusting smokers lmao

xjayguyx posted...

Imagine working for U-haul.. LMAO

Imagine looking down on another person's job. Most uhaul employees are probably better people than you are.
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It's been less of a thing lately but when I first started working there wasn't mandated 15 minute breaks and people who smoked would constantly take smoke breaks whenever the felt like it.

It pissed me off, why should they get breaks all the time just because they are trying to get cancer while I have to work?

Still have people who try to do it, but they are only supposed to do it every 2 hours now. I can get why someone wouldn't want to hire smokers.

SunWuKung420 posted...

Imagine looking down on another person's job. Most uhaul employees are probably better people than you are.

Now who's looking down on someone?

xjayguyx posted...

Now who's looking down on someone?

You put yourself down there.
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SunWuKung420 posted...

You put yourself down there.

I don't see it like that, I just see you being a hypocrite.

right they wanna screw up their health and want the company to pay for their doctor visits.

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@xjayguyx

When did I look down on you for your job?
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My employer is a hospital and has a no smoking policy. We had to sign waivers before interviewing saying we didn't smoke tobacco products. Makes sense for a hospital obviously. It also makes sense for companies who have to provide health insurance for employees.

Sucks if you smoke and want to work for uhaul I guess.

faramir77 posted...

I think that's incredibly stupid, but I also doubt that it will be seriously enforceable.

I smoke cigars, maybe once or twice a week. Almost nobody I know in person knows that I do. How would your employer ever find out unless you told them?

Secondly, my infrequent cigar smoking will almost certainly have no impact on my health (knock on wood). Meanwhile, their policy hasn't excluded employing people that are overweight, which has a MUCH more serious impact on health than enjoying a stogie a few times per month. If they were serious about the health of their employees, they would focus on that as well.

You're probably not the person this policy is aimed at.

fat people dont make you smoke so dont blame obese people for peoples smoking problems

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The tobacco industry is the closest thing to being literally cancer without being actual cancer.
The sooner it gets cut out and disposed of, the better off it will be for everyone, and the longer it festers, the more people's health will deteriorate, their productivity and productive lifetime will deteriorate, and the less people's money will go to toward more responsible/productive industries. Not just the addicts themselves, but those around them as well.

Denying employment of the tobacco industry's victims is a moral gray area, but anything that pushes against that industry is a push for a better, healthier, cleaner world for everyone, and I would say the ends justify the means. Besides, it's not like the people this impacts are locked and barred from their future if that's the future they want. If they truly want to, they can overcome their addiction. They don't have to fight their addiction alone.

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I'm against companies trying to control the personal lives of their employees. I think it's hypocritical that companies do this while also crying about the government trying to regulate them.

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I don't smoke, but how is it gonna create a healthier work environment? Are they smoking in the store?

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Sounds fair, provided there's some leniency for people that are genuinely trying to quit. In particular, existing employees should be given a grace period in which to show that they're making that effort, since quitting cold turkey isn't easy. Smoking is an addiction, and those trying to get over it do deserve some sympathy for the challenge they're facing. The ones that aren't trying, though? Sucks to be them.

EvilMegas posted...

I don't smoke, but how is it gonna create a healthier work environment? Are they smoking in the store?

https://www.healthline.com/health/thirdhand-smoke

More significantly, it helps the store smell better. Smokers are smelly and make everything around them smelly. I don't think it's ever full-on deterred me from visiting a business again, but I've definitely had times when I've been looking to buy something and wished I had a non-smoking employee helping me do so because of how unpleasant it was to interact with the smoker.

Well, might as well fire all the smelly people too.

_AdjI_ posted...

but I've definitely had times when I've been looking to buy something and wished I had a non-smoking employee helping me do so because of how unpleasant it was to interact with the smoker.

How close are you to these people that the smell is so strong it bothers you?

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EvilMegas posted...

Well, might as well fire all the smelly people too.

I mean, that kind of does happen. People are often talked to about BO problems that are interfering with their ability to do their job (with disciplinary action happening if nothing changes, unless it's an unavoidable medical problem), and if you show up to an interview smelling like you haven't showered in a month, odds are you won't be getting the job. It's not an explicit "do this or you're fired" requirement, but hygiene is widely considered to be an important element of professionalism. Extending that to smoking is a pretty easy step of logic.

EvilMegas posted...

How close are you to these people that the smell is so strong it bothers you?

The smell of cigarettes doesn't have to be particularly strong to bother me. It's a very unpleasant smell at any concentration, and the smell wafting off of smokers' clothes is often easily enough to reach that threshold. The smell is also usually on their breath (for obvious reasons), which is very relevant and noticeable when they're talking to me.

xjayguyx posted...

I don't see it like that, I just see you being a hypocrite.

He is, son. I don't know what his problems are in life but he sure does like to project his unhappiness here.

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If you could read properly, you'd understand he called me a hypocrite, as if I also looked down on him for his job while calling him out for doing it, but I didn't look down on him for his job and therefore not a hypocrite.
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Stop taking your problems out on other people Sunny. I hope your wife is supportive and gets you the help you need because you clearly won't help yourself.

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Coming from the guy that's constantly attacking me, it's laughable advice.
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No need to get defensive. Just ask for help and you'll receive it, Sunny.

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