Henry Ford Health to Implement No-Nicotine Hiring Policy

Henry Ford Health System announced Friday that they will not hire job applicants who use tobacco products, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Job applicants for the Dearborn-based health network will be screened for signs of nicotine as part of the hiring process.

"The health and well-being of our patients, employees and visitors is our top priority," Henry Ford CEO Nancy Schlichting said. "The no-nicotine policy strengthens our commitment as role models for providing a healthy environment for everyone at our facilities.”

While the screening and ban on nicotine use only applies to new job applicants, Henry Ford also is enhancing their existing policies that prohibit the use of tobacco at their facilities, launched in 2007. This includes prohibiting employees from using tobacco products or smelling of tobacco at any time during their workday.

Employees who violate these policies are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Henry Ford joins a growing number of local and national health care systems that have implemented a no-nicotine hiring policy, including Beaumont and Oakwood health systems.

Oakwood Healthcare—also based on Dearborn—implemented their tobacco-free workplace program as of Oct. 1, 2011.

The program includes any type of nicotine product, and applies to any new hires, but not existing employees.