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July 24, 2014

SAC discusses UPMC smoking policy effects

no smokingPitt employees who work under UPMC bosses may find unexpected consequences from its new no-smoking policy, John Greeno, assistant vice chancellor for employee relations and labor relations, told the Staff Association Council (SAC) July 9.

UPMC’s new smoking policy, instituted July 1, requires its employees, and Pitt employees under its management and in its buildings, not to smoke or to smell like smoke during their time at work (see July 10 University Times).

“They’re doing what they have termed a soft rollout for the first few months,” Greeno reported, but added: “There are some potential sticky problems. …”

The policy, he noted, “means you don’t even have to have been smoking yourself.” Arriving at work after being among smokers at home or elsewhere may make an employee smell like tobacco smoke.

Asked SAC President Rich Colwell: “How are we going to recommend to the staff member: You know, your spouse smokes, maybe you should divorce them? Are we going to have showers at work, another set of clothes that have never been in the house” with a smoker?

“The person who has this issue will have to come up with their own solution,” Greeno said. “We can what-if all day long …

“I don’t think the University has any interest in enforcing the policy,” he added. “The problem for us will be if the person is not able to do their jobs because of this.”

Indeed, UPMC officials may eject people from UPMC facilities for violating this policy, Greeno said. “That’s not their first move,” he noted, since any violation of work policy likely would result in lesser disciplinary measures initially. But if UPMC takes such an action against a Pitt employee, “from a Pitt standpoint, that may not be considered an excused absence. … That could turn into some sort of performance issue … but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Could someone be terminated for smoking or for smelling like smoke? a SAC member asked.

“Ultimately, yes,” Greeno said. “We don’t feel we’re in a position to tell UPMC how to run their space.”

He recalled the first no-smoking policies in Pittsburgh in the 1980s. “There was lots of sturm und drang … I think people being reasonable about this will prevail.”

In other news:

• SAC is attempting to institute a peer-to-peer mentoring program, whereby staff members who want advice or skill training related to their job duties can connect with a network of fellow employees willing and able to help. Passing out a survey to SAC members in attendance, staff relations committee chair Tammeka Banks said: “We’re going to start small. We’re going to start with SAC in trying to match mentor and mentees.” She hopes in the future to expand the idea to larger groups of staff.

• Banks said her committee also is continuing to devise a general staff survey of University issues, and hopes to present a draft to SAC membership “in a couple of months” to review and approve.

• Colwell expressed the hope that staff raises, usually announced once the state budget is finalized, “meet or exceed the cost of living” and the recent modest rise in the cost of health care benefits. He is particularly concerned about the level of the raise for Pitt’s lowest-paid workers, he said, since a small-percentage raise may not amount to much in actual dollars for them. “To work here and not get a raise is not good. You have to get something,” he said.

• SAC has a new website (sac.pitt.edu) and a new administrator, Marcie Johnson.

• The group canceled its August meeting and will meet next on Sept. 17.

—Marty Levine