Medical Worker Says She Was Fired for Smelling of Smoke

ST. LOUIS PARK  (AP) - A medical receptionist at a St. Louis Park cancer center says she was unfairly fired for smelling like cigarette smoke.

Stephanie Cannon, of Fridley, is a receptionist at Park Nicollet Health Services in the Frauenshuh Cancer Center and has been smoking for 18 years. Cannon says she has followed the hospital's policy of no smoking at any time on the premises.

Six weeks after she started, Cannon says her supervisor told her not to come to work smelling like smoke. She says she stopped smoking on breaks, in her car and bought new clothes. But last week Cannon was fired. She claims she's a victim of discrimination.

Cannon says she's exploring legal remedies. Park Nicollet spokesman Jeremiah Whitten says the health organization has no comment on the matter because it's a personnel issue.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)