Almost all of us with at least one smoker. One person
who takes both their lunch break and 4-5 other 10 - 15 minute
breaks throughout the day to feed their addiction.
Typically this person thinks their behavior is entirely acceptable,
because they are a smoker. Often times I have been stuck in a
situation where such breaks are considered acceptable by employers
(especially when working in the restaurant business) for smokers,
but not for other employees. I know that if I spent as much
time away from my desk outside of my lunch at my current (office)
job taking breaks to grab a breath of fresh air, make personal
calls or walk around the block, it would be a problem and I
would likely be terminated. When a smoker does it, no one
blinks an eye.
Aside from the productivity issues, smokers also create an
unpleasant work environment. Coworkers become resentful of
their smoking counterpart's ability to take so many breaks and
essentially slack off on their work responsibilities as a
result. They start to feel as though they are being punished
for choosing to lead a healthy lifestyle. Also, anyone within
a 20 or so foot range of a smoker's work area is subjected to a
nauseating combination of stale cigarette smoke and whatever
deodorant or body spray and mints the person uses to cover it
up. In many cases, the smoker doesn't even excuse
themselves from their desk and go into the bathroom to spray these
offensive items, but rather sprays them vigorously around their
work area, disregarding the environment and possible allergies of
fellow coworkers.
Most importantly, smokers cause fiscal harm to a company.
Smokers are more expensive to insure and they are also more likely
to be overweight and physically inactive than their non-smoking
counterparts. On top of that, they have weaker immune systems
and are more likely to become ill, resulting in a larger number of
sick days taken and a higher risk of disability leave, resulting in
the need for a temp and a loss of productivity.
While I understand that nicotine addiction is something that many
people struggle with everyday, I do feel as though it is a
behavior for which an employer should be able to disregard or
terminate a job candidate/ employee for. Think about
it: Employers are allowed to require pre-employment drug
tests as well as drug tests throughout employment and deny
employment to prospect or terminate employees according to the
results, for all of the reasons above an more. An employee
who took 5 breaks a day to grab a drink would likewise be
terminated and a non-smoking employee who constantly left their
desk to take the elevator downstairs to hangout outside for a few
minutes several times a day would also be in danger of losing their
job. From a business standpoint hiring a smoker doesn't
make much sense and is most likely harmful to a company, regardless
of other qualification. Moreover, maybe if we forced people
to take responsibility for the issues that smoking causes in their
lives and others, more people would get the motivation to
quit. Therefore, I feel as though "are you a
smoker" should be a legal interview question and criteria for
eliminating potential (and current) employees.
Why I feel companies should be able to deny employment to smokers
user
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From the Community…
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:28am PST
Report AbuseWhile I can see your point of view, I take offense to some of the generalizations that you make. I am a kickboxer - 60 to 90 minutes per day, 6 days per week. At 6' tall and 148 lbs I do not qualify as overweight. I rarely get sick. And yes, I smoke. I do not smoke in my home, or car, or anywhere that my daughter would see me do it. I agree that some smokers are awful to work with. However some of use do, in fact, have respect for our coworkers and our obligations to our employers. I indulge my habit on my lunch break, and that is it, and I am free to do as I choose during that time for which I am not paid. As far as healthcare costs, obesity drives them up every bit as much, and as I choose to smoke I pay higher disability and life insurance premiums - and I accept that it is part of the price for my habit. I think that everyone has a guilty pleasure, and as long as you aren't exposing others then what is the big deal?
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:29am PST
Report AbuseWow so just because I am a smoker I should not be able to have a job to provide for my children, and I stink? I do the best I can to not offend anyone, but how about the non smokers who wear god awefull amounts of perfume and or nasty cologne? If they dont want smoking at work do like most of the companies do and have a smoke free workplace. I dont know anyone who gets to take extra breaks to smoke, the company you work for is interesting then. Dont ever judge anyone whos shoes you havent been in, I for one have tried many times and due to my depression from my last child, my husband leaving me not being able to handle or help me with depression and life , my doctor told me not to try right now, I am not ready to quit, unless you think think my mental stability is less important then the stale cig smoke you smell on me.
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:35am PST
Report AbuseI DO AGREE THAT AN EMPLOYEE SHOULD NOT TAKE MORE BREAK'S THAN ARE ENTITLED THEM TO GO SMOKE BUT I THINK THERE COULD BE A DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA SO AS NOT TO BOTHER NON-SMOKER'S BUT TO BE DENIED EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE YOU SMOKE IS RIDICULOUS TO ME.
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:45am PST
Report AbuseYou have got to be kidding! Why don't we just march all those awful slacker smokers out in the parking lot and shoot em! Smoking is not illegal, therefore cannot be compared to drug use and the dangers that intails. It actually sounds to me like the thing that you are most steamed about is that your smoking colleagues are taking advantage of a lax break policy. I am a smoker and have tried and am trying to quit. Where I work I do not get special treatment. I get no more breaks than my non-smoking co-workers and have to curb my cravings until the official breaktime. Folks who take "illegal" breaks to smoke (or do anything else for that matter) are dealt with. I have to walk at least 20 feet from the entrance to our building to have my smoke since we are not allowed to smoke by the doors. But mind you, I have a right to light up and don't appreciate it when I am targeted as some kind of lesser human being because I choose to do so. Put an air freshener on your desk if the stench is so unbearable. If there is a problem with folks taking 5 breaks a day to smoke at your work, then that is a problem for your manager or whoever is in charge. Maybe you should bring your concerns to their attention and tell them you feel unfairly treated since you are a non-smoker and don't get as many breaks as the smokers. I'm sure in the current climate of persecution that your concerns will be addressed. Just as it is illegal to ask people about their age, gender, sexual orientation etc, it is also illegal to ask folks if they are smokers, drug addicts, and so on. Employers are free to say "non-smoking environment" in their employment ads.
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:48am PST
Report AbuseI think what the author is saying is that right now, employers do not have the legal choice of not hiring a smoker. Many employers still would hire them, but I agree that if an employer feels smoking is an addiction that threatens the workplace, they should be allowed to use it as a deciding factor in employment. Speaking from experience, I've worked with both considerate and inconsiderate smokers. Both types effected my work enviornment negatively, although I generally tolerated it easily from the considerate ones because they were at least trying not to let it get in the way of their work or work relationships. Another consideration though is that 3rd hand smoke (stale cig smell) IS a health risk to others and I shouldn't be subjected to that 8-9 hours a day in the workplace.
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:50am PST
Report AbuseNow I know why your husband left you.....
You are intolerable and quite selfish.
Breath!
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:55am PST
Report AbuseWow...your company is at fault for letting people get away with taking extra breaks. I am a smoker, but I smoke only at lunch.
So what I get from your opinion about smokers is that they should not be able to work anywhere. They should be screened like drug users...and before you say nicotine is a drug, so is caffine. Are you gonna want employers to ask potential employees 'do you drink coffee?'...and they are are more sickly than non-smokers.
You seem very one-sided and highly judgemental. I have a feeling that nothing that anyone on here may say will possibly get you to see that maybe you have been too harsh in your opinion.
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 7:56am PST
Report AbuseIt's called DISCRIMINATION sweetheart...I also beg to differ with you...YES, I am a smoker...It is SO sad that smokers are looked down on...we keep thousands of ppl employed though...just think of all the ppl, that work for Robert Morris...or AJ Reynolds that would be out of a job with someone that has your attitude...we ARE discriminated against constantly...our habit pays for Health Care in the state in which I live....I am taxed out the ASS because I choose to smoke, BUT have NO Health care....go figure huh...I work out and I eat right...I beg to differ on your statement about "low Immunity" Smokers CAN be very healthy ppl...Although I work at a job where I can take as many breaks as I chose...My Boss is also a smoker...I have worked many places where we had 2 breaks a day...and a lunch...I never went out at any time to indulge in my smoking habit...and what about schools??...Do you REALIZE how many teachers smoke??....and yes..the teachers have a designated smoking area away from the school, Doctors also...Please don't think that there are NO doctors that smoke...or Dentists...Your views on "are you a smoker" should be a legal interview question and criteria for eliminating potential (and current) employees."...Piss me off to no end...to each his own though...I mean thats what this site is for...even if the topics are ABSURD....I respect ppl that don't smoke...and I have also tried to quit....I agree with ginaschraven....If you have never walked in someones shoes...don't be quick to judge them....you never know....EVERYONE has habits..indulgences...and stress relievers...what works for YOU may not work for OTHERS....
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Posted by Mon Nov 2, 2009 8:04am PST
Report AbuseGiz ...really?????....3rd hand smoke....for Christs sake...they JUST discovered this though...after a hundred years..now there is 3rd hand smoke....and yes..I have heard it on the News....but geez....I guess it's ok to be stuck in rush hour traffic behind a bus or Mac Truck whose exhaust fumes your breathing in can't be considered dangerous...although I hear NOTHING on the news about THAT kind of pollution...it's always the smokers....
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