Kentucky employers could be allowed to fire employees simply because they use tobacco.
(Union, Ky.) - If you are a smoker employed in Kentucky, you could soon be fired simply on the grounds that you smoke if a northern Kentucky lawmaker has his way.
State Senator John Schickel (R-Union) says he has pre-filed a bill which would remove tobacco users from the protected classes outlined in Kentucky's employment anti-discrimination law.
By doing that, the state’s employers could deny employment to anybody who smokes – solely for that reason.
The bill would also preserve employers' ability to charge different rates for smokers and nonsmokers utilizing sponsored health plans.
Schickel says it makes no sense for smokers to be a protected class. His bill will be considered when lawmakers meet for the 2019 lawmaking session in January.
According to 2016 data from the Centers for Disease Control, about a quarter of adults in Kentucky use tobacco, compared to a nation rate of about 17.1 percent.
Motorcycle Crash Claims Life of Waldron Man
Chicago Bears Advance Toward Move to Indiana
SDCSC Celebrates South Dearborn HS Class of 2026
UPDATE: Green Alert Cancelled for Missing NKY Veteran
Indiana State Parks Updating 43 Playgrounds with Support from Lilly Endowment
Houchin Secures Committee Approval for Over $5 Million in Infrastructure Projects Across IN-09
Comments
Add a comment