Query and Answer – Why Companies Might Not Hire Smokers

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Query and Answer – Why Companies Might Not Hire Smokers

Question

Recently I finished what I considered was a good interview. I had much experience with the company, I replied to their queries well and we seemed to hit it off. I didn’t get the job. One of the employers inquired me if I smoked, and I do. They sighed and wrote something down. My friend informed me that few companies don’t hire smokers. Is that true? Are they even permitted to inquire me that query?

Answer

Yes, it is true that few companies won’t hire smokers and yes, they are legally permitted to answer that query (in most states). In general, interview queries about someone’s personal life are not permitted. You can’t inquire someone if they are attempting to get pregnant, for instance, because it isn’t the business of the company to hire or not hire based on someone’s personal life selections.

Although, smoking is completely different case. Though few lawmakers in some cities are attempting to make it illegal to not hire smokers, presently there are very some laws that secure smokers from being discriminated against during the hiring procedures.

This may appear unfair, and in several ways it is, but you have to look at it from an interviewer’s view as well:

  • Hiring smokers can drive up health insurance prices for the company. Your employment is worth X amount of dollars to the industry. If your smoking charges them more money, your employment will no longer make economical sense.
  • Heavy smokers tend to take more irregular breaks, leading to less growth.
  • Few industries cannot risk the hazards of employing smokers. Hospitals have sick sufferers that should not be around cigarette smoke. Gas stations can’t risk a worker throwing out a cigarette onto spilled gas.

There are few legitimate reasons that companies don’t need to employ smokers. While you may be certain that your smoking won’t affect the bottom line or protection of the workplace, the interviewer may not share that belief.

How to Answer Interview Queries about Smoking

Sadly, the best way to answer an interview query about smoking is with honesty. If you tell a lie and you are caught, that is grounds for dismissal. You may also need to think about attempting to quit. This will permit you to tell the interviewer that you are presently quitting smoking, which should negate any uncertainty.

There are few states where queries about smoking are illegal, but lawsuits against these claims will be complicated to win. Your best bet is to simply identify why interviewers may not hire smokers and expect that you find one that will.

Take Away Interview Tips

  • Interviewers can choose not to hire you because you smoke.
  • The recommended way is to quit smoking.

Author

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