Are Employers Discriminating Against Smokers?

Smokers, do you feel discriminated at work? There are 21 states that say it is ok to have a nicotine free policy in place. That means employers in the following states can choose not to hire people who smoke cigarettes or use nicotine of any form.

The 21-states are Arizona, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

The company U-Haul has been one of the first to say that they will be enacting the policy, when they are hiring that potential employees will have to sign paperwork that says they do not use nicotine, as well as being willing to submit to nicotine screenings as a condition of continued future employment.

This new law, combined with the federal law that went into effect raising the age of cigarette purchases to 21, are these things discriminatory towards smokers? Do smokers have rights?

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