Here Comes the Anti Smoking Nazi’s
June 30th, 2007 | by Matthew OKeefe |I’m entirely biased in this piece because I am one of the infidels that just happens to smoke. In Mass-a-two-sticks it is illegal to smoke in the workplace. Just another one of those nice laws to let the people know that the state is looking out for you…again!
Back in the old days Henry Ford was so anti drinking that I think that he demanded that there would be not one employee on his payroll that drank alcohol period. I may be wrong on that fact but good old Henry was looking out for his employees. Henry was the first I believe in corporate American history to be socially pro-active when it came to his employees because he had a problem at some point in his life with alcohol.
I can understand a supermarket chain not wanting its employees to smoke in the store, that is state law. Hell, I can understand them asking them to smoke in designated areas outside of the store, or only in sections outside of the building not seen by customers. What I don’t understand is the chain dictating personal paid break time behaviors when that time is mandated by the state.
Over at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette they have this to say about Big Y and its non smoking corporate policy…
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Big Y begins new no-smoking effort
By Craig S. Semon TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFFSOUTHBRIDGE— Chain-smoking and taking a drag of a cigarette has been snuffed out chain-wide at Big Y Supermarkets.
In an effort to ensure a healthier environment, the company has implemented a smoke-free campaign to make cigarette smoking a thing of the past.
As part of its health and wellness program, Big Y kicked off its new smoke-free workplace status as of July 1 by holding a companywide ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday afternoon. Big Y has more than 9,200 employees at 60 locations.
The company has joined with the American Lung Association, which trained 13 employees as “facilitators” who can hold smoking cessation classes at each store. “We’ve gone all smoke-free for the employees and it’s healthy for the customer,” Mary Voight, employer service representative for the Southbridge store, said yesterday.
Not only have the 115 workers at the Southbridge Big Y taken a pledge to keep the store smoke-free (some with mixed feelings, Ms. Voight acknowledged), smoking has also been prohibited for workers during their paid breaks and 15 feet from any side of the buildings. - Telegram & Gazette
If the Big Y food chain has such an opinion against shopping then why do they sell cigarettes? It just amazes me that a company can preach the evils of smoking and yet they sell them at the front of the store. Just for giggles I wonder how many of the evil smoking heathen employees go up to the customer service counter and plank down a five dollar bill for a pack of the contraband their employer has banned?
In this companies effort to save its employees from an uncertain future they have ostracized them as less than valuable employees. Much like the Nazi’s of World War II, the perfect race is dictated by the state and no exception is allowed. This is discrimination and corporations dictating who can work and who can not.
If the reporter for the Telegram wanted to really get at the truth of this piece he would have applied for a job at ten of the Big Y stores to see if smoking was asked on the application or during the interview process. Answering in the affirmative if questioned on the evils of tobacco products. Not getting the job at ten stores would have been the smoking gun part of this piece.
Discrimination starts little by little and each time it rears its ugly head and we ALL say it is okay then we have forgotten what freedom is really about. Start practicing the goose step and break out the needle and thread to put that Marlboro patch on all of your clothes if you are a smoker so the true race can spot you in public places.
We need to stop accepting that the government and big brother knows best or we lose the big picture of what America was founded on. Freedom.
As for Big Y, as a consumer and a frequent visitor to one of their stores, and a smoker, I won’t be buying my grocery needs there anymore. Take your buy one and get two free and smoke em!
Papamoka
Cross posted at Papamoka Straight Talk
7 Responses to “Here Comes the Anti Smoking Nazi’s”
By Tom Harper on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
I think there are some companies that don’t allow their employees to smoke at all — period. If an employee tests positive for tobacco, they’re fired. I guess it’s legal for a private company to do this, but it sucks.
By manapp99 on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
How long before they go through your lunch to make sure you are eating healthy as well. I agree that private companies have the right, but with low unemployment they are running a risk of losing good qualified employees due to excessive nannyism.
By Colton Ross on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
Smoking is a public health problem not a human rights issue. Second-hand smoke *kills* people. Your post is downright idiotic and smacks of the same self-focused whining we’re used to hearing from smokers.
By SheaNC on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
If your employer is providing health insurance, they have a stake in your health. But how should that be addressed?
By Craig R. Harmon on Jul 1, 2007 | Reply
Driving cars is a public health problem, not a human rights issue. Driving kills people. Of course, eating potato chips clogs arteries and kills people.
First they came for the smokers but I wasn’t a smoker so I said nothing…
By Paul Watson on Jul 2, 2007 | Reply
Craig,
Except your smoking kills me. You can smoke yourself to death for all I care but when you poison me, I get pretty pissed.
That said, not allowing people to smoke on their breaks, when they’re outside is pretty asinine. Even the UK hasn’t gone that far.
By Craig R. Harmon on Jul 2, 2007 | Reply
Somebody else’s driving could kill me. My mom used to pack potato chips in my lunch to take to school. There’s all kinds of ways that other people can kill you. Do we outlaw all of them?
I guess I’m just more libertarian, less nanny-statist than some.