CHICAGO, (November 15, 2005) - A growing number of cities and states nationwide have banned smoking in public places, such as restaurants and bars, but what about the workplace? While corporations nationwide have smoking policies, there are also 30 states that have laws relating to employees' use of tobacco. How do these state laws impact employer policies, including financial incentives for employees to stop smoking?

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Experts with Aon Consulting, a leading global human capital consulting firm, are available to discuss the implications of state law protections for employees who use tobacco. Specifically, these experts can discuss:

   -- What these laws mean for employees and employers, especially as it
      relates to health, life and disability coverage;
   -- How the laws differ from state to state; and
   -- How these laws changed over the years.

Although most states currently have laws on employees' use of tobacco, the statutes provide smokers varying levels of protection. For example:

   -- Seven states only protect smokers from discrimination in the hiring or
      firing process;
   -- Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia also protect smokers
      against discrimination with respect to compensation, benefits, or
      other terms, conditions and privileges of employment;
   -- Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have certain types of
      exceptions from the smoking protections; and
   -- Eleven states permit insurance distinctions between tobacco users and
      nonusers when determining the type and price of health, life, and
      disability coverage.

To arrange an interview with an Aon Consulting expert, such as Mark Holloway, who can discuss the state law protections for employees using tobacco, please contact:

  Joe Micucci, Aon Consulting, 312-381-4786, joe_micucci@aon.com.

  About Aon

Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC)( http://www.aon.com/ ) is a leading provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting. There are 47,000 employees working in Aon's 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Backed by broad resources, industry knowledge and technical expertise, Aon professionals help a wide range of clients develop effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions.

Aon Consulting is among the top global human resources consulting firms, with 2004 revenues of $1.247 billion and 7,000 professionals in 120 offices throughout the world. Aon Consulting delivers integrated consulting solutions to help clients with employee benefits, human resources outsourcing, compensation, communication and management consulting.

PRNewswire -- Nov. 15

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SOURCE: Aon Corporation

Web site: http://www.aon.com/