U-Haul officials have announced they'll no longer hire people who use nicotine -- regardless of whether it's in the form of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco or vapes. The company-wide nicotine ban will affect U-Haul locations in 21 states, officials say.
The company has yet to reveal how they'll go about determining whether applicants use nicotine, and keep in mind it's legal for employers to test for it in only 17 states...
U-Haul says the new policy, which goes into effect on February 1st, will help "create a more healthy corporate culture," while also decreasing health insurance costs. But! The policy will NOT affect any of the 30,000 U-Haul employees who already use nicotine, officials say.
"We are deeply invested in the well-being of our Team Members," said Jessica Lopez, U-Haul Chief of Staff. "Nicotine products are addictive and pose a variety of serious health risks. This policy is a responsible step in fostering a culture of wellness at U-Haul, with the goal of helping our Team Members on their health journey."
The company also hopes to encourage employees to quit by waving a required wellness fee for people who don't use nicotine, according to officials. Check out all of the details on CBS News.