The Smoker Ban

The situation that has cropped up due to the recent increase in smoker bans by large corporations is very perplexing. While on one hand, banning smokers from applying to large corporations would be better for society health wise, I think that the ban could lead to a slippery slope of health bans on employees from large corporations. Corporations are unlike the government in that they are created by citizens that wish to further their own self interests, while possibly helping others in society. That being said, I definitely agree that health oriented corporations, such as hospitals, have the right to deny employment to a person that is a smoker. Such corporations strive for the betterment of our society through solving people’s health issues and it would almost be counterproductive if their employees were to smoke. But, at the same time, these corporations would be limiting the liberty of its employee’s ability to use a legal substance. I think that corporations that have nothing to do with the health field should not be able to limit the liberties of their employees this way. Ellen Vargyas said, “We want to be very supportive of smokers, and the best thing we can do is help them quit, not condition employment on whether they quit”. I agree with this, if an employee is facing an addiction to cigarettes they should be helped, not immediately fired. So, to answer the question asked, I do not think that corporations should be allowed to limit liberties in the same ways that governments do. As I stated at the beginning of this blog, most corporations are created by citizens that are acting in their self interest, and even though many corporations do in turn help society, they should not be able to limit liberties like the government does. Our government was established to help the citizens of our country relish in our liberties and it has the ability to limit liberties in order to protect the citizens and society. I think that corporations should be able to do their business without limiting the liberties of their employees and should leave the allotment and limitation of liberties up to the government.