James is on the management team of a health insurance company called HIC. At a team meeting, the CEO announces that from now on, HIC will not hire smokers, and all employees will be regularly tested for nicotine. This policy would reduce the firm€™s expenses (an estimated $4,000/smoker each year) while increasing productivity (no smoking breaks, fewer sick days). In addition, the policy will encourage healthy choices by employees and the community as a whole €“ people will quit smoking to work at HIC. The CEO is convinced that society will benefit if smoking is €œde-normalized.€ He also believes this policy will enhance HIC€™s position as a progressive enterprise, setting a good example for other businesses. Already, many companies in the medical industry are instituting such policies.

Although Jamesdoes not smoke, he is troubled by this new policy. HIC is located in a city with high rates of unemployment and poverty, as well as a large minority population. He is familiar with the following data:

James fears that the policy will prevent HIC from hiring the very people who need jobs the most. Also, he knows that nicotine is highly addictive and that many people who want to stop smoking struggle to do so.

Lifestyle choices affect a whole range of illnesses, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and sexually transmitted diseases. Is it fair to single out smokers for punishment? While only one-tenth of the company€™s workers smoke, two-thirds are overweight or obese, which also increases health costs. Even some healthy activities may increase costs €“ the CEO had been injured in a bike accident. Should the company refuse to hire overweight and cyclist groups as well?

To complicate James€™ decision, the CEO tends to resent employees who disagree with him. If James speaks out against the nonsmoking policy, his job prospects could be damaged.

Questions: 

1. What would Mill, Kant, and Rawls have said about the CEO€™s plans? About what James should do?

2. What would have been the result if James had applied the Front Page test?

Transcribed Image Text:

Percent of Adults Who Smoke 42 36 Percent of Adults Who Smoke Group Group Asian women People living above poverty level College graduates Native Americans People living below Poverty level People with less than a High school education Unemployed 22.5 32 12 Full-time employed 45 28