"Cleveland Clinic has implemented a new smoking policy which involves "post offer" testing of candidates for employment. Those who test positive for nicotine will have their offer of employment rescinded. In these situations, the candidate will be offered smoking cessation assistance and will be permitted to reapply for open positions after 90 days."
I talk to hospitals and nurses and doctors all day. In my travels, this came up today as I was searching for Cleveland Clinic Florida's HR number. I was a bit flabbergasted. True, I am a puffer nutter but My Gods, talk about Big Brother!
I understand the public smoking bans and making workplaces smoke free - even making an entire campus smoke free but how does THIS work? What if your partner or roommate smokes? What if the Everglades are on fire (guess that would not register as nicotine) but still!? Drug testing is one thing but NICOTINE TESTING??? what other "testing" does this open the door for? "had a martini after work" test, "who I slept with last night" test, "how much mayo I put on my sandwich" test?
I would say - now I have heard it all but I am so afraid that I have not. sighhhhh.
I tossed it to my boss who is a Human Resources Guru and she even tossed it further to her HR Gurus and general consensus was that it is not legal so we are all puzzled as to how they are getting away with it. Upshot for us is that we will not do business with them - I can't ask a candidate if they are a smoker legally!
Thoughts anyone?
I talk to hospitals and nurses and doctors all day. In my travels, this came up today as I was searching for Cleveland Clinic Florida's HR number. I was a bit flabbergasted. True, I am a puffer nutter but My Gods, talk about Big Brother!
I understand the public smoking bans and making workplaces smoke free - even making an entire campus smoke free but how does THIS work? What if your partner or roommate smokes? What if the Everglades are on fire (guess that would not register as nicotine) but still!? Drug testing is one thing but NICOTINE TESTING??? what other "testing" does this open the door for? "had a martini after work" test, "who I slept with last night" test, "how much mayo I put on my sandwich" test?
I would say - now I have heard it all but I am so afraid that I have not. sighhhhh.
I tossed it to my boss who is a Human Resources Guru and she even tossed it further to her HR Gurus and general consensus was that it is not legal so we are all puzzled as to how they are getting away with it. Upshot for us is that we will not do business with them - I can't ask a candidate if they are a smoker legally!
Thoughts anyone?
