Bill would allow Kentucky employers to fire, refuse to hire smokers
A bill in the Kentucky’s Senate would allow employers to discriminate against cigarette smokers. Even if you smoke off the clock, employers could choose not to hire you just because you’re a tobacco user.
The measure was pre-filed by Republican Kentucky state Sen. John Schickel from northern Kentucky this week.
“We only have several protected classes in Kentucky: gender, age, religious preference and it makes no sense for a smoker to be a protected class,” he said.
Covington resident Mark Borison says the bill would set a bad precedent.
“Of course, what’s the next thing they’re going to come after you for?” he said.
Borison is not a smoker but believes the bill is “unnecessarily restrictive for no reason.”
Another Covington resident, Kevin Emerson, has been a smoker for 15 years. He says he should be able to do what he wants as long as it’s legal during his off-time. Emerson also believes if the bill passes the unemployment rate would increase.
“I can’t even imagine what the figures would be,” he said.
The bill is in the Senate and still has to be passed there before it’s voted on in the House.
By Maytal Levi, Fox19
For The Kentucky Enquirer
That is stupid, why would anyone even suggest a law. I do not smoke but it is legal to smoke and employer should not have that much power over their employees. This country is starting to spiral down into communism.
Thank the republican party
anything to make more money for the wealthy
Whats it anyone’s buisness if you smoke at home? Or on your off time? I’m not even a smoker and think this is ridiculous
Let’s include the use of alcohol and drugs, even prescription drugs. After all these cause health problems also.
I smoke. I have taken jobs where smoking is not allowed and never once complained I did my job and continued on. This is definitely discrimination against people who smoke. We know the consequences, we pay taxes on our cigarettes, and higher premiums on our insurance but, that is our choice to smoke and we know all this. It isn’t right to not give us a job because we smoke. Just because we smoke doesn’t mean we aren’t qualified to do the job why should that have to be determining factor? Shouldn’t how well we do our job and how much experience we have be the determining factor?
The reason the GOP wants to pass a bill like this is the companies wants to save money on there health insurance for there workers (right to work law,black lung bill just a couple of examples they have passed since being the majority ) anything for the corporations