Pre-employment background screening to include nicotine tests

no longer hire smokers who fail a drug test for nicotine as part of a pre-employment background screening program beginning January 1, 2011. The new program does not effect current employees, but will test any future applicants for nicotine as part of their pre-employment background check. Those that fail this test will not be hired. The Medical Center claims that “Because it is important for health care providers to promote a healthy environment and lifestyle, effective January 1, 2011, Saint Francis Medical Center has a nicotine-free hiring policy. Applicants will be tested for nicotine as part of a pre-employment screening.” While this seems to contradict the Missouri law that employers cannot refuse to hire or fire an employee for alcohol or tobacco use outside of work hours, non-for profit hospitals are actually excluded from this. Perhaps the primary reason behind this, as quoted, is due to the fact that a hospital feels they should be portraying an image of health, but it may be because of a recent statistic which claims that “employees who smoke can cost their companies $12,000 a year unnecessarily”. One assumes this is due to the breaks they take during the day – something non-smokers do not partake in. Is this hospital in Cape Girardeau setting a new trend? Should background checks for employment include tobacco? Not just in the health care system, but in all industries? It’s a dangerous precedent to take, and some may feel it is ‘Big Brother’ trying to take control. We will have to see the reaction to this, both in terms of job-seekers and other employers.]]>