Hiring only the Healthy

February 15th, 2012Employee Screening, Health Screening0 comments

While there are serious questions about the ethics of such practices, it appears that some employers are discriminating against less healthy prospects in the workplace in favor of their healthy counterparts. This means that there is the potential that a smoker may be denied a job just because of their habit and the obese may be discriminated against because they may carry underlying health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes.

These policy changes are actually happening in US and Europe. For example, those applying for a job at may be subjected to a nicotine test.

If the person tests positive for nicotine from any source, they will be denied a job. The company defends itself, saying that they want to send a strong anti-smoking message to employees and create a space that is healthier to breathe in. In addition, they hope that hiring only non-smokers will ultimately reduce healthcare premiums and healthcare costs in general.

There are already major healthcare organizations in US that have led the way in promoting these kinds of radical programs but, historically speaking, it usually isn’t long before non-healthcare employers follow suit with similar programs. And, unfortunately, it can spread to other illnesses, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Employers may begin to ask for full physicals and blood panels on all hiring prospects.

Some employers are taking a slightly different tack. Instead of refusing employment to unhealthy prospects, they are hiring them and putting them through various healthcare wellness programs in order to improve their health. Programs on smoking, exercise, eating and general self care replace outright denial of employment and have the added benefit of creating employees who show up to work and are productive when they get there. Healthcare costs overall go down and everyone takes the advantage.

It is currently unclear exactly how far companies can go with these types of policies. Could they deny employees with a high BMI putting them in the obese range or can they refuse to hire employees who have type II diabetes. In many ways, these things result from choices in lifestyle and are potentially alterable. But will these policy changes actually promote the lifestyle changes we hope to see?

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