Hospitals Go From No Smoking to No Smoker Policies

Friday, 11 February 2011 | by Pat's Picks

According to the New York Times, hospitals have shifted from no smoking policies to no smoker policies. Many are treating cigarettes like an illegal drug and now require job applicants to submit a nicotine-free urine test before being hired. Under the new policy, workers caught smoking on the job can be fired. The Times says the shift has spurred a debate on how far an employer should be able to “into private lives to ban a habit that is legal.” Experts say it could become a real problem if a substantial amount of health care institutions adopt the no-smoker policies and smokers aren’t able to find jobs.