The important decision taken by the city of Delray Beach (Florida) and translated into law on Tuesday: will no longer be hired public employees with the habit of smoking or taking tobacco in any other form derived.
But, contrary to what you might, it is not just a decision taken in time of austerity to increase the productivity of civil servants decreasing the time of the break to smoke a cigarette, it is an action-oriented above all to save the community. According to data presented at the NBC from Bruce Koeser, head of human resources of the Municipality of Delray Beach, this law can save 12 thousand dollars a smoker, between sick leave and health care costs in general. The numbers of people employed in public affairs are not available, one can assume that it will not constitute a high figure, considering that the town has about 65 thousand inhabitants and to this law, which also includes measures for people hired before its entry into force, aims to be imitated by other communities and, over time, become constant for all public administrations and beyond.
This is not a first, a similar initiative had already been taken in 1993 from a small town north of Miami and the experiment did not experience significant savings to the community, as well as having caused the ire of some public servant who has decided to redeem the controversy in the courtroom.
Measurements of this kind have been adopted by other small American centers, ranging from Hallandale Beach to Hollywood, where both governments are to sign a statement that new employees do not take tobacco for at least one calendar year and be taken to smoke during working hours corresponds to an immediate dismissal. A Broward County public employees smokers have to pay $ 40 per month more for their insurance coverage.
Alice Willi
