Smoking or Non-Smoking?

garnet · 01-26-2005, 03:16 PM

How does the insurance company know which employees are smokers? With any job I've had I never had to fill our any sort of questionnaire about health, habits, etc. Do some companies do this?

Of couse this company can crack down on the smokers if they want to, but firing seems a bit extreme, and I'm sure they've lost some good employees. If they don't want to pay the higher premiums for the smokers then they should give the smokers the option of paying the difference. I never really thought about the insurance aspect of it, but I wonder what the productivity of non-smokers is vs. smokers. I've worked with some heavy smokers in the past who have to take so many breaks that I can't imagine they're producing as much as non-smokers. But then again, if somebody wants to screw off at work, they'll find a way whether they smoke or not.

glatt · 01-26-2005, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garnet

But then again, if somebody wants to screw off at work, they'll find a way whether they smoke or not.

You posted at 4:16. Are you at work? I am.

garnet · 01-26-2005, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

You posted at 4:16. Are you at work? I am.

Somebody needs to relax. Go have a cigarette.

404Error · 01-26-2005, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garnet

How does the insurance company know which employees are smokers?

I believe I read in another article that they were urine testing or something to that effect for nicotine.

I think the whole idea is totally absurd. What someone does during their off time is no business of the company that employs them. If health risks are their contention, why then don't they go after people that skydive or race cars on weekends. How about homosexuals? They're at a risk of getting AIDS. Shouldn't anyone involved in risky past times have to pay higher insurance premiums? Give me a break already!

LabRat · 01-27-2005, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 404Error

I How about homosexuals? They're at a risk of getting AIDS.
Shouldn't anyone involved in risky past times have to pay higher insurance premiums? Give me a break already!

1) anyone, ANYONE, not just gay people are at risk for AIDS...
2) Yes, but how do you patrol this?? I do know that you pay higher life insurance (or can't get it at all) if you say you participate in certain hobbies/occupations deemed high risk by Mr. Underwriter.

01-26-2005, 03:16 PM	#1
garnet ... Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 657	How does the insurance company know which employees are smokers? With any job I've had I never had to fill our any sort of questionnaire about health, habits, etc. Do some companies do this? Of couse this company can crack down on the smokers if they want to, but firing seems a bit extreme, and I'm sure they've lost some good employees. If they don't want to pay the higher premiums for the smokers then they should give the smokers the option of paying the difference. I never really thought about the insurance aspect of it, but I wonder what the productivity of non-smokers is vs. smokers. I've worked with some heavy smokers in the past who have to take so many breaks that I can't imagine they're producing as much as non-smokers. But then again, if somebody wants to screw off at work, they'll find a way whether they smoke or not.

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