Four are fired, for refusing smoking test
LANSING, Mich. A Michigan health-care company has fired four of its employees -- for refusing to take a test to determine whether they smoke cigarettes. The company enacted a new policy this month, allowing workers to be fired if they smoke -- even if the smoking takes place after-hours, or at home.
The founder of Weyco Incorporated says the company doesn't want to pay the higher health care costs associated with smoking.
An official of the company -- which administers health benefits -- estimates that 18 to 20 of its 200 employees were smokers when the policy was first announced in 2003. As many as 14 of them quit smoking before the policy went into effect.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
