Whirlpool suspends 39 workers, says they lied about smoking

Granted, the employees should use some common sense here, not to be seen on the plant premises...but on the other hand what precedent does this set for the next move up the ladder with employers governing the lives of their employees while holding the "insurance shield" over their heads....and they had to call in other workers who had been laid off to fill in...how cost effective was that? I think it's called making a point....the insurance point...BD

INDIANAPOLIS - Smoking can be hazardous to your health, and it's turning into a bad career move, too. Some employers have developed wellness programs to motivate employees, while others ask employees to state on benefits forms whether they use tobacco.
Management suspended the 39 employees Friday after they were spotted using either chewing tobacco on company property or taking a drag in one of the factory's dozen shelters for outdoor smoking, Castrale said.
Lewis Maltby, president of the National Workrights Institute, which advocates for employee privacy, sees no problem with employers trying to curb smoking. But he worries that the trend of cracking down on employees' unhealthy behavior is extending beyond tobacco use.
"We shouldn't have to give employers complete control over our private life so they can save a few dollars on medical care," he said.