U-Haul implements nicotine-free hiring policy effective February 2020

U-Haul recently announced its plan to implement a nicotine-free hiring policy across 21 states, including Texas, in an effort to establish one of the healthiest corporate cultures in the United States and Canada. The company will target states in which employers may lawfully decline to hire tobacco users. Although the majority of states have enacted smoker protection laws, Texas doesn't provide any workplace protections based solely on employees' tobacco use. But even if your company doesn't refuse to hire tobacco users, you may want to consider providing resources to employees who do smoke to increase their productivity and promote a healthy workforce.

U-Haul's policy

On December 30, 2019, U-Haul International, a leader in the moving and storage industry based in Phoenix, Arizona, announced it will “soon be the first major company in its field to decline job applicants who are nicotine users.” The company, which employs more than 30,000 people, intends to promote a healthy company culture and continue to attract professionals to its ranks.

The nicotine-free hiring policy will go into effect in 21 states beginning February 1, 2020, but employees hired prior to that date will not be affected. States where the policy will be enacted include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.