WOW. What do you think of this hiring practice?!

I am surprised there isn't some kind of discrimintation law against this. Honestly, I think this is an excellent move for the business and its employees. Without people who smoke on the insurance plan the company can offer better rates and lower premiums to their employees, not only for health insurance but for life and other policies as well. Fewer people will miss work due to smoke related illness. Plus, nothing is worse than when you walk past or out of a company and there are smokers standing around and you have to walk through the cloud of smoke to get in or out of the building.

I think this hiring practice is a little, well, a fine line of the law. It's one thing to make a work place smoke free. But what their employees do on their own time is none of their business. But on the other hand, it is a hospital. And you can't preach to your patients to stop smoking if the doctor/nurse also smokes. Like I said, a fine line.

I think it's discrimination and they should be sued for it. Smoking is not illegal there for they have no right to hire based on this. I understand it's a medical issue, but bad diets and/ bad drivers don't count, neither should smoking.

I think this is blatant discrimination!!! As long at its not illegal, what employees do on their own time is none of an employers business!!! And tea breaks ARE your own time!!! Sure they are trying to set a good health example, but if you're going to discriminate against smokers, then what next? Stop hiring anyone of an unhealthy body weight? Stop hiring people who drink too many fizzy drinks? People who don't get enough exercise? I think someone who does not want to be treated by a smoker doctor or nurse needs to look at themselves and their own issues - why are they so judgemental for instance? Do they not have any bad habits of their own? And why oh why does it matter what your doctor or nurse does in their own time???!!!

I think that is ridiculous. They could miss out on an amazing worker just because they were a smoker, and settle for someone that is second rate in comparison. I can understand if they didn't allow employees to smoke on site, but thats just stupid. I'm a smoker, I do my job better than the non-smoking girl that worked here... Can you imagine if they had that everywhere? It's actually discrimination! Madness! (End rant...) x

I know why they are doing this. One for the cost of insurance and then for the smoking areas they need to provide. If you have all non smoking employees then you do not have to have a smoking area for them. I find this predijudical to the smokers and carring this non smoking thing to far. I have never smoked and never will but this is rediculous. Next they will ban smoking in private homes and cars.

I'm from the Cleveland area where the Clinic is. Our newspapers, large and small, all have voiced their disapproval...as well as most other people around here. Right now you can't even smoke in your car with the windows closed as long as you are on their campus or anywhere on their property. It's one thing to keep employees from smoking on their premises, but it's a whole nother thing when they violate the rights of those who work for them IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND OFF SHIFT! While I applaud their efforts otherwise, I think they have NO right to control what their workers do on their off time. Give them a pee test?! For nicotine?! Sounds like Hitler's on their hiring staff, lol. I think this whole thing is entirely out of hand. What's next in the fight to control people who work for you? Should they be not hiring people who eat fatty foods, salty foods, or maybe coffee because of the caffeine? Yes, I know smoking is bad for you, but as human beings in 'the land of the free' they sure are taking away our freedoms day by day. Pretty soon it wont be the land of the free, it will be the land of dominion and power of one set of people over another, and I believe we fought WWII over that didn't we?!

I think that they are getting a bit carried away and are discriminating. I don't think they should be able to not hire you because of something you do on your own time. It is not illegal.

I think it is an awesome idea. I hope more places and more states will enforce this. I say, "hats off to them.Great idea."

Well, that sounds really bad and unfair for those poor people that smoke. But, I think it is encouraging a good health habit somewhat.

I have not heard of this before. But I guess a company has the right to hire or not hire anybody. It really does make sense for a hospital to hire non-smoking employees. I don't know how far this goes as far as discrimination against smokers. I don't smoke, so I can't see why I need to be concerned other than the possible infringement of other's rights. But I guess that will be for the courts to decide.

Wow- that is a shocker- I'm not sure if it is legal or not- if it is- I'd say it is border line. I don't chew or smoke so I'd be ok- I can see saying that you can do neither of these activities while at the work site- but to not be hired because you do either in your personal time. Odd- Maybe it has something to do with lower medical insurance (less claims)- or because they are bad for you- and it is a hospital clinic. I wonder if anyone applies and tries to sue them for discrimination.

I worked for a company that only allowed smoking outside, while in training for a job, I was my the entrance. I saw people going outside, ever hour for 10-15 minutes for a 'smoke break'. This at a minimum is 6 hours a week spent on smoke breaks. I commented to a manager about that, who had the office next door, he had noticed the practice as well. I suggested that non-smokers get 1/2 day off a month for not taking the smoke breaks. He actually agreed. I think it is a great idea, where I work now, I get no breaks, but the smokers make sure they get smoke breaks. It is just good business sense, not to mention health sense. It is disturbing to see the staff in hospitals and doctors offices smoking and then they tell you to what to do to get healthy....

I think that's discriminatory. It's not a nice habit, but it's still a legal one, and I don't think employers should have a right to not hire a qualified candidate based purely on a lifestyle choice. If it's a matter of health care, then why stop there? Why not cease hiring obese employees? After all, that's the number one killer of Americans today, isn't it?