You bring up excellent points. The “It’s my life and I will do what I want” argument doesn’t hold as much weight when it is affecting the lives of others. And as I’m sure you’ve realized from your own personal experience, the consequences of a smoker living their life as they choose often has a negative impact on the lives of their loved ones who are left to care for them once they become ill.

It sounds like your situation was truly infringing on your rights and your health. Glad you got out of that one. It’s been fascinating to watch the amount of emotion that the smoking debate has stirred up in my building. BTW, the majority of shareholders voted to make the building smoke free, so phase 2 of this process should be interesting. Thanks for reading!

I believe the policy not to hire people who smoke is practicing social responsibility. As a nation, we have become too lax about the consequences of poor health choices, while others have paid the price in increase health care costs for those with chronic conditions developed as a result of smoking, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and a host of other self-destructive habits.

There is enough information–all around us–that excuses for not changing one’s health habits just don’t cut it anymore. It’s a matter of choice, and consequences of poor choices should fall on the shoulders of the one making bad choices, not on the rest of us.

So, I for one, am glad to see companies clamping down, and in so doing, are making a loud statement that it’s NOT okay to ignore your health at the expense of others. Looking the other way, when someone can do something about the problem, needs to stop.

My dad also died from the effects of excessive cigarette smoking. The end of his life wasn’t pretty.

~Kathy