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.
Hillenbrand Commits $50K to RCCF as Part of the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT Program
DCF Grant Helps Dillsboro Elementary Address Student Needs
New Italian Restaurant Coming Soon in Downtown Lawrenceburg
Lower Dillsboro Road to Close for Slide Repair
Leising Files Two Bills Ahead of 2026 Legislative Session
The Upper Room's 12 Days of Coffee Spotlights Organizations That Serve Vulnerable People
