employers and smoking

[jeff1978]

my employer wants to charge everyone in the company $5 per week if they are a smoker. we already have to pay higher insurance because of smoking. can they really do that?

[jeff1978]

its a benefit program, idf you are a smoker, and choose not to enroll in this "quit for life" program, they will charge $5 per week

[sharone]

What's their justification? Are they claiming smokers are away from their desks too much or that they have to pay higher maintenance to clean up after you? Do they have to pay higher insurance premiums for you? I'm just trying to think of how they might be doing this and getting away with it.

[jeff1978]

The program is called "quit for life". If u r participating in the program and not smoking they give u a discounted benefit, and if u choose to keep smoking, and not participate, you will be charged $5. I think its through insurance somehow. I work at a reputable grocery chain. it doesn't have anything to do with to do with cleaning up, or higher costs. Or so they say. We don't leave anything to clean up anyway. Only allowed to smoke outside during breaktimes. Any info you may need just ask.