York countians mixed on WellSpan smoking policy
By Sean Philip Cotter, The York Dispatch, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
We asked Facebook readers: What do you think about WellSpan's decision not to hire smokers?
Reactions were mixed, but passionate.
Commenters raised the concern that policies like this that target one unhealthy habit can quickly slide down a slippery slope.
"It tends to lead into stickier subjects such as obesity and social drinking," wrote
She and others did not like the idea of that level of intrusion into employees' private lives.
But that idea isn't so repugnant to everybody.
"I understand their reasoning, but then they need to do it for any behavior that is unhealthy," wrote
Either way, these worries were thoroughly discussed within WellSpan before the company decided to go through with the hiring policy, WellSpan spokesman
"WellSpan has no plans of going down that path in regard to hiring," Marcy said.
He said it's important for health care professionals to set a good example in the community, especially in one like
"We felt that it was incumbent on us to extend what was already a pretty extensive journey to try to reduce the harmful impact of tobacco in our communities," Marcy said.
And some Yorkers agreed.
"Honestly I never understood the hypocrisy of someone who is supposed to be making people healthy making themselves unhealthy," wrote Albert Orkenbjorken of
"It is a medical facility nobody should be getting third hand smoke when being treated, especially infants," she said.
But Marcy said there had been no such issues at WellSpan, which banned smoking from its campuses in 2006.
"No, no, it had nothing to do with secondhand smoke," he said.
Commenter
Marcy said that though WellSpan does offer a range of incentive programs aimed at improving employee health, and some of those have to do with insurance, this does not.
"This doesn't have anything to do with insurance," Marcy said.
For Dover's
"I want the best doctors whether they smoke or not."
-- Reach
___
(c)2014 The York Dispatch (York, Pa.)
Visit The York Dispatch (York, Pa.) at www.yorkdispatch.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 502 |
Survey Offers Insight On What Employers Want From Their Insurance Brokers
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News