[quote=navigatro;300056]
Originally Posted by
fit29
Regarding Alaska airlines policy, How do they justify this, it does seem like discriminatio to me.
Smokers are not a protected class. Therefore, employers are within their legal rights to not hire them.
IIRC, this hasn't been challenged in court. I would say that employers are within thier rights to preclude you from smoking while on duty or on company property, but I don't know how a total life ban from something that is legal would hold up. I can see them assessing a surcharge for health insurance though.
This is a slippery slope situation. What happens when the the company decides they don't want to hire people who eat too much or people who consume alcohol? They are both life choices that could affect you in a negative health way. Do you want your company telling you what you can do on your own time? I don't smoke, but I respect the right of people to do what they please to their own bodies on their own time. Keep it out of my home, my place of work, and other designated public locations and I'm happy. If you want to destroy your lungs go right ahead while I destroy my liver.