One Smoker Fires Back

So, the new trend across Corporate America is to deny applicants employment or fire their current employees for smoking tobacco – outside of the work site. Last time I checked, while smokers are now utterly banished to the outdoors or their own homes, the purchase/consumption of tobacco is legal for adults in the United States. I’m employed by an insurance company. I thoroughly understand there are increased risks for specific habits/activities. I absolutely understand the concept of charging increased premiums for those increased risks. However, these increased risks reflect GENERALIZATIONS; no one can predict the future of an individual.

Overweight people COULD develop diabetes or heart disease – should they be banned from employment?

Horrible driving habits COULD result in serious/permanent injury – should they be banned from employment? If so, what defines “horrible”?

Sexually adventurous (and careless) individuals COULD develop AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, etc – should they be banned from employment?

Families, regardless of the number of children, are charged a flat rate for health coverage. Families with 5 children COULD have increased health care costs over families with only one child – should a parent with more than one child be banned from employment? What’s the cutoff – one child, two children, five children – and who decides what the right number is (let’s call China to see what they think)??

Individuals who have successfully battled cancer in the past COULD have a relapse – should they be banned from employment?

Alcoholics COULD develop liver disease or become suicidal – should they be banned from employment?

Children and grandchildren of cancer victims have an increased risk of also developing the same disease – should they be banned from employment?

Certain ethnic lines are susceptible to Sickle Cell Anemia – should they be banned from employment?

The generalizations could go on and on. Should Corporate America begin refusing employment for all these groups of citizens as well? Something tells me there would be quite a spike in unemployment across the country. I would understand if the employers made the move to charge smokers (sure, go ahead, do the random testing to check for nicotine) more for their health insurance – but completely ban them from employment? The concept just seems wrong to me….very, very wrong. It leaves me scratching my head…and this view comes from an ex-smoker. What's your opinion?