Tobacco Documents Online

I F r I I I r I f i I L ~ L National Bank of Detroit wnaam e. eaY+ns October 7, 1980 $.nsor Vke Preaident and oirector of Peraonnel _ Mr. Sunny Fong Department of Public Health P. 0. Box 30035 Lansing, Michigan 48909 ATTN: Citizens Panel on Smoking and Health Dear Mr. Fong: We are following with interest the discussions and proposals of the Governor's panel on smoking and health. We share the desire to provide a pleasant and healthy working environment for employees. We are concerned, however, that certain provisions of your panel's proposed bill would create a real hardship for employers in Michigan. Specifically, the required separation of smokers and non-smokers would be incompatible with the natural flow of work in office operations and would require the addition of considerably more space to handle the same volume of work. The 50% limitation on smoking area would in may cases-not correspond to the actual percentage of smokers in the work force and would similarly require additional space. The provision for criminal penalties and civil damages would have an intimidating effect on anyone's considering hiring employees in Michigan. Taken together, these restrictions would add additional costs to companies doing business 1n Michigan and we feel they would be a negative factor in any decision to locate a business operation in the state. This is the time when maximum effort should be devoted to increasing employment and prosperity of business in our state. We feel that education and other efforts to limit smoking can have the same desirable affect of reducing this habit without adding undue additional costs and restrictions in the employment of Michigan workers. Sincerely yours, 'n9* V--, L -177- o.troit Mkniqan 48232 ra.onon. (313) 22S-22e2