Essay Assignment

See Decision Scenario E on page 232 of your text. I’ve copied it below for your convenience.

In 1991, Ford Meter Box Co., a small manufacturing firm in Indiana, prohibited employees from smoking both on the job and away from work. Janice Bone worked for Ford Meter Box, and when a routine urinalysis detected nicotine in her system, she was fired for violating company policy. Bone sued, arguing that her off-work activities were private and should not be the basis for employment decisions.

Ford Meter is on a growing list of companies that are placing employment restrictions on smokers. The most obvious restriction is the prohibition of smoking on the job. A number of considerations have led companies to go further than this, leading to policies like Ford Meter’s, which prohibits smoking altogether. Companies argue that increased health care and insurance costs associated with smoking justify these restrictions. Smokers use health care insurance more often, they have greater rates of absenteeism, and tend to retire earlier than other workers due to health issues such as emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease. In the opinion of many employers, these factors make smoking a job-relevant activity.

Some companies, like Texas Instruments and U-Haul, require smokers to pay higher rates€“an insurance surcharge€“for health insurance. In 1994 a Lockheed plant in Georgia joined companies like Turner Broadcasting in refusing to hire people who smoke. In defending their policy, a Lockheed spokesperson referred to an American Lung Association study that showed companies pay up to $5000 per year in additional health care costs for employees who smoke. The Lockheed policy applied only to new employees.

In response to Janice Bone’s lawsuit, the state of Indiana passed a law protecting employees from dismissal because they smoke outside of the workplace. By 1993, 28 states had passed legislation protecting the rights of workers.

€“Is smoking an activity that is job relevant? Are all employee activities that can increase employer costs relevant for employment decisions?

€“Ford Meter Box conducted routine urinalysis tests to check for traces of nicotine. Is this means of enforcing the policy policy reasonable?

€“Should governments get involved in these issues, or should they be left to the individual bargaining between employers and employees?

€“Ford Meter fired a present employee for smoking. Lockheed refused to hire smokers, but left alone present employees. Texas Instruments and U-Haul placed additional conditions on employees who smoke. Are all of these policies justified? Some of these policies? None of them?

Your assignment: Does a company have the right to prohibit employees from smoking off the job? Carefully consider both sides. In a good philosophy paper, you need to address or talk about the problems an opponent would bring up. There is nothing to be gained by ignoring or hiding potential problems or objections with your position. The goal is not to stake out a position and defend it no matter what. The goal is (at its loftiest) truth; however, I think we should be very pleased if we merely understand the problem better when we are finished. You needn’t conclude one side is right (although one side may well be). The goal is to demonstrate that you have thoughtfully considered the problem, and have expressed your views clearly and concisely.

Essay assignment
in an essay assignment your main aim is to show me that you understand the views of assigned authors. You do not need to say what your position on the issue is unless the question specifically tells you to do so. You do not need an introductory paragraph. You may start right away on answering the questions, organizing your response into a coherent essay explaining the views of the person you are asked to discuss. You do not need a title or a header. Your paper must be double-spaced, 12pt font, with margins no smaller than 0.75 in. For the hard copy, your name must appear only on the back of a blank last page. For the electronic copy, you do not need to have your name anywhere in the document—the website knows who submitted the paper. Be sure to submit the correct paper because the site will not allow you to do multiple submissions. Check and double-check before submitting. Your paper must be no longer than two pages of text, with the third page containing all your references for both parts of the essay.

Grading criteria:

1. Accuracy of response (correct statements/ no incorrect statements)

2. Demonstrated understanding of the issues and arguments involved

3. Adequate performance of the goal of the essay (answering all parts of the question)

4. Correct identification of the reasons supporting the view being discussed

5. Where relevant, accurate identification of key objections to the view being discussed

6. Clarity and conciseness

7. Organization (including appropriate citation of references)

8. Where appropriate/when a question asks for it, a thoughtful assessment of the strength of the view being discussed

Essay assignment
in an essay assignment your main aim is to show me that you understand the views of assigned authors. You do not need to say what your position on the issue is unless the question specifically tells you to do so. You do not need an introductory paragraph. You may start right away on answering the questions, organizing your response into a coherent essay explaining the views of the person you are asked to discuss. You do not need a title or a header. Your paper must be double-spaced, 12pt font, with margins no smaller than 0.75 in. For the hard copy, your name must appear only on the back of a blank last page. For the electronic copy, you do not need to have your name anywhere in the document—the website knows who submitted the paper. Be sure to submit the correct paper because the site will not allow you to do multiple submissions. Check and double-check before submitting. Your paper must be no longer than two pages of text, with the third page containing all your references for both parts of the essay.

Grading criteria:

1. Accuracy of response (correct statements/ no incorrect statements)

2. Demonstrated understanding of the issues and arguments involved

3. Adequate performance of the goal of the essay (answering all parts of the question)

4. Correct identification of the reasons supporting the view being discussed

5. Where relevant, accurate identification of key objections to the view being discussed

6. Clarity and conciseness

7. Organization (including appropriate citation of references)

8. Where appropriate/when a question asks for it, a thoughtful assessment of the strength of the view being discussed