U-Haul Worldwide Inc. has introduced plans to cease interviewing and hiring nicotine customers, together with individuals who use e-cigarettes and vaping merchandise.
The well-known truck and trailer rental firm permitted the nicotine-free coverage set to enter impact Feb. 1 in additional than 20 states the place the corporate operates, the Arizona Republic reported Wednesday.
These states embrace Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Individuals employed earlier than the coverage goes into impact will not be affected, firm officers mentioned.
U-Haul Worldwide employs round 4,000 individuals in Arizona, the place the corporate relies, and 30,000 throughout america and Canada, officers mentioned.
In every of the 21 states, it’s authorized to not rent individuals who use nicotine, firm officers mentioned. Employers in 17 states are additionally legally allowed to check for nicotine, officers mentioned.
U-Haul Worldwide has not indicted if it could conduct checks, officers mentioned.
The corporate expects the nicotine-free hiring coverage would assist create a extra wholesome company tradition, officers mentioned. The brand new coverage will deal with the well being of group members and workers, whereas additionally lowering health-care prices, firm officers mentioned.
Firm executives encourage workers to not use nicotine by waiving a required wellness charge, officers mentioned. The corporate would not require tobacco customers to pay a health-care insurance coverage premium, the Republic reported.
The corporate mentioned it has made strides to encourage well being and wellness, together with breaking floor on a brand new convention and health centre in Arizona and implementing numerous worker health and wellness packages.
Some hospitals and different well being companies have carried out no-nicotine hiring insurance policies, firm officers mentioned.
Alaska Airways has had the coverage since 1985 to deal with health-care prices and well being penalties, officers mentioned. As well as, the airline has cited the problem of smoking on planes and in locations surrounding airports, officers mentioned.
