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

Stephanie Cannon, of Fridley, says she's been a smoker for 18 years and burns through nearly a pack of Camels each day.

Cannon is a receptionist at Park Nicollet Health Services in the Frauenshuh Cancer Center. She says she 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.

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

 

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