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ASHPR:
CBS Holds Up Story After ASH Questions its Accuracy,
Then Reports Anti-Smoker Employment
Policy Favorably as a "National Model"and "New Reality" [01/21/06-1]
The CBS Evening News, which
held up for two days a planned report on firing smokers after ASH
publicly suggested that it might be inaccurate or misleading, finally
aired it Friday evening [1/20/06].
FOR ASH's EARLIER RELEASE, ASH
PR: CBS-TV Holds Smoker Piece Following Complaint [01/19/06-5], see:
http://no-smoking.org/jan06/01-19-06-5.html
As then aired after the delay, the piece was generally quite favorable
in
reporting on a new policy by Scotts
Miracle-Gro to fire all employees who smoke, even off the job,
pointing out how unnecessarily expensive it is to employ them.
CBS closed by suggesting that firing employees who smoke may be a "national model" and a "new reality." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/20/eveningnews/main1227183.shtml
The CBS broadcast pointed out that "it's estimated that smokers cost an
extra $4,000 a year each for health care costs and lost productivity,"
and that "thirty percent of Scotts' 5,300 U.S. workers smoke."
This means that, although smoking is prohibited on Scotts
premises, off-the-job smoking by Scotts' 1590 smoking employees still
costs Scotts over $6.3 million each year –
according to the figures reported by CBS. This amounts to over
25% of the company's annual health care cost of $24 million.
That (also according to CBS's figures) works out to over $1,700 for
each nonsmoking employee -- money which could
otherwise be used to reduce the health care premiums these workers pay,
add more comprehensive drug coverage, or for other purposes.
This, Scotts' CEO Jim Hagedorn
is quoted as saying, is a major reason why the
company is moving to establish a smoke-free work force.
Since responsible broadcasters always try to feature quotes from both
sides on controversial issues, it is interesting that the only employee
who is quoted in the report is a smoker who doesn't object to the new
policy. Instead she says that "he is giving [employees] a
choice."
Interestingly, the only person who is quoted in opposition to the
policy is an attorney who, at least according to the piece, seems to
have nothing whatsoever to do with the company or any of its employees,
and doesn't suggest that the policy of firing employees who smoke is
illegal in any way.
The piece now correctly reports that so-called smokers' rights'
laws simply prevent employees from being fired because they smoke; not
that the laws necessarily prevent discrimination against smokers in
hiring, promotion, salaries, etc. – the
very point ASH had made in its press release. Indeed, CBS
notes that in states where they cannot be fired for smoking, employees
who smoke off the job can still be required to pay more for health
insurance.
The CBS piece also notes that Scotts is taking other steps to try to
reduce its employees' enormous health care costs. These include
an
on-site clinic with a doctor for the workers, a drive-through pharmacy,
a new gym etc. – all of which cost millions of dollars a year.
Interestingly, the only health-promoting and cost-saving program which
does not cost the company any money is firing smokers. Yet, as CBS's
figures show, the payoff is enormous – 25% of its total health care
bill, perhaps far more than from all
the other company-sponsored wellness measures.
CBS concludes its report with words which seemingly lend support to the
position ASH and many other antismoking and nonsmokers' rights groups
have taken – that firing smokers is an appropriate and very
effective
way to stop burdening the great majority of employees who wisely chose
not to smoke with the enormous unnecessary costs of smoking by their
fellow employees.
“Some smokers try to complain that their rights are being violated by
these policies, but every court which has even considered the issue has
held that there is no right to smoke” says public interest law
professor John Banzhaf, Executive
Director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). Clearly,
smokers have no legal or moral right to force others to pay for the
enormous health care and other costs of their smoking, he argues.
In closing, CBS seems somewhat supportive of the new policy, and
suggests – as ASH does – that it represents the long-overdue wave of
the future: "Change is never easy, but it's
the new reality for these workers. And, if it works, everyone's bottom line will look better."
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