Smokers, work and discrimination

[SteveOBHave]

Stale smoke is not a personal hygiene issue though much the same as strong perfume (which btw I find 'offensive') is not. Stale smoke isn't a nice smell and thats coming from a smoker but to suggest it as a reason for not employing someone who is qualified for the job is ludicrous.

Actually I think I'd still raise a complaint if some woman/man had perfume so intense that you can swim in the smell. I would have to disagree - stale smoke is a personal hygiene issue.

 

[w3bbo]

So by that statement you would say someone, a non-smoker, who happened to be chatting to a smoker who was smoking then came in from their break who also stank of stale smoke due to it being on there clothes had a personal hygiene issue?

Body odour, unless it's a medical problem, stems from bacteria formed due to not washing regulary which imo IS a hygiene issue. I could have a shower and say 20 mins later have a smoke but that would be deemed as me having a personal hygiene problem? Surely thats not right! I wouldn't claim someone with overpowering perfume had a hygiene issue - I would just claim they stink! Best not to confuse the situation between stinking and being unclean.

 

[SteveOBHave]

So by that statement you would say someone, a non-smoker, who happened to be chatting to a smoker who was smoking then came in from their break who also stank of stale smoke due to it being on there clothes had a personal hygiene issue?

Body odour, unless it's a medical problem, stems from bacteria formed due to not washing regulary which imo IS a hygiene issue. I could have a shower and say 20 mins later have a smoke but that would be deemed as me having a personal hygiene problem? Surely thats not right! I wouldn't claim someone with overpowering perfume had a hygiene issue - I would just claim they stink! Best not to confuse the situation between stinking and being unclean.

So by that line of thought if they rubbed dog crap all over themselves then they would not have a personal hygiene issue, they would just stink?

Seriously tho - it's pointless semantics - everyone here knows what we're discussing and reducing it to a semantic argument is just annoying.

 

[4T5]

It's amusing how non-smokers sit in their smoke-free pubs and feel all smug because the filthy smokers have to huddle outside but, give the disgusting pariahs 5 minutes a few times a day to have a fag outside at work and there's outrage because "life isn't fair - the smokers get more perks than me". Tell you what, why don't you play games on your work PCs or post on internet forums for 5 minutes, 6 times a day to compensate - oh wait, most of you are doing it now.

Get a grip on yourselves you infantile whingers.

That gave me a Proper laugh out loud so Cheers.
The pub i go in All the non smokers come outside to sit with us I only really go in the pub at lunch time & very occasionally as well but when i do i sit out back with every body else & there are around 2 people actually inside the pub
It's weird how people are so ready to attack other groups of people & i understand how the Nazis got in power with the Sheep like anti other group attitude of most Humans.
Makes me laugh when people critisize smokers for throwing away butts when the same people litter our streets with Rubbish. They also moan about the smell but we have to put up with the over bearing smell of Half a bottle of the latest Funky after shave or Perfume or Gallons of hair product crap they stick on.
To top it all though You DRIVE CARS FOR ***** SAKE
You use Electricity produced by Burning Coal & you have your Heating on to high.

My Facts.
I Never smoke anywhere i am not supposed to.
I NEVER drop litter including Butts.
I do my bit to protect the Future of this Planet.
O Yer & I ****** Love smoking

Having said All that if an Employer said Malc you can have a job if you don't smoke during work hours i.e. 6am till 2pm or 8am till 4pm I'd say You are my Hero I Love you & Cya Monday.
When they asked whether it would be a problem I would Honestly say No not in the slightest.

 

[w3bbo]

So by that line of thought if they rubbed dog crap all over themselves then they would not have a personal hygiene issue, they would just stink?

No because rubbing faeces into ones self is a discusting habit worse than smoking in fact.

 

[bigredshark]

Just fine and logical thanks. That's a very ridiculous scenario and really rather childish. Or maybe you'd rather sign a contract dictating exactly what you can and can't do in your own time? hmm? Thought not. stfu.

No it's not, I have an obligation to act in a professional manner, that means I don't wear jeans and a t-shirt, I don't come in stinking of alcohol. I don't see any reason why that doesn't extend to not coming in stinking repulsively of smoke.

You do what you want in your own time, except when it affects your job. I don't get to wear jeans because I'm going out after work, so you don't get to stink of smoke because you were smoking in your own time before work.

 

[richard smith]

You have no idea how hard worker I am. It's just that you don't like my opinion that smokers use there addition to take time off work. And there craving means skiving off from work. It's just because tobacco is a legal drug, you allow it. Would you allow someone to pop out and have a shot of vodka on a "alcohol break?"

You are in fact discrimating against me because I just see slackers and using excuse for it.

If you're such a hard worker, why are you posting here? Get on with your job, slacker.

 

[bigredshark]

You have no idea how hard worker I am. It's just that you don't like my opinion that smokers use there addition to take time off work. And there craving means skiving off from work. It's just because tobacco is a legal drug, you allow it. Would you allow someone to pop out and have a shot of vodka on a "alcohol break?"

You are in fact discrimating against me because I just see slackers and using excuse for it.

I agree with a few others that this is a fairly stupid argument. If people take so many smoking breaks that their not getting their work done then they can either make it up or get fired. Getting the job done is the measure in the end.

Personally, other people go for a smoking break, I'll take a wonder down to starbucks for a coffee every so often.

 

[Jest3r]

Sorry to sound preachy, but the attitude towards people who smoke in the UK is repulsive. I don't tell someone with b.o to FO now do I?

no, but you can if you are willing to go through the hr firing procedure

 

[SteveOBHave]

No because rubbing faeces into ones self is a discusting habit worse than smoking in fact.

LOL just spit out my tea

 

[Haggisman]

Get a grip. If you consider 10 minutes spent outside smoking out of an 8+ hour day a significant benefit, you need your bumps read dude. I can assure you, you're better off in the warm than killing yourself in the rain.

5 days/week x 52 weeks = 260 days - 30 days holiday = 230 days

230 x10 mins = 2300 mins

2300 / 60 = 38 hrs...

Can I have an extra week's wages for not skiving all that time please?

(this is assuming it's just 1 x 10 min break/day!)

 

[Jest3r]

To be honest you are on iffy ground so I would just find a different reason not to employ them and find someone else.

thinking about it last night, might be simpler to re-advertise and say "previous applicants need not apply"

 

[Stan_Lite]

5 days/week x 52 weeks = 260 days - 30 days holiday = 230 days

230 x10 mins = 2300 mins

2300 / 60 = 38 hrs...

Can I have an extra week's wages for not skiving all that time please?

(this is assuming it's just 1 x 10 min break/day!)

Only if you can prove that you never stop work for non-sanctioned breaks or play games or have a conversation not regarding work or check personal e-mails or browse the internet or make personal calls etc on work time

 

[Voltar]

No it's not, I have an obligation to act in a professional manner, that means I don't wear jeans and a t-shirt, I don't come in stinking of alcohol. I don't see any reason why that doesn't extend to not coming in stinking repulsively of smoke.

You do what you want in your own time, except when it affects your job. I don't get to wear jeans because I'm going out after work, so you don't get to stink of smoke because you were smoking in your own time before work.

Now you have lost any credibility you may have had on this topic.
1. You are implying that smokers act by a different set of rules.
1.a: that any person who does anything in their own time could in fact be rendered jobless due to a lack of regard for your notion of professionalism.
2. You also imply that someone who smokes is less of a professional than anyone else.
3. Who would wear jeans into the office anyway? Your final point is again, as per usual one sided and misguided. By changing your clothes in your professional environment are you not contradicting this notion of professionalism? Furthermore you may not have grasped what 'in your own time' actually means. In office hours, you do your job. You work by the rules given to you in your contract and by your boss. If you are going out after work then it is your responsability to find time to change etc by yourself, and making this constitute a part of work ethic is silly.

Good job in Spain I can smoke and work at the same time in the firm
HAHA. Unlucky preachy mofos. Plus the non smokers dont give a **** because we are working and smoking. OMG is that even possible? Aren't we skiving? Or is it communal skivage when the non-smokers come and chat to us? Or even having a chat and a coffee? That 5 min is complete disregard for work ethic! Omg. GET OVER YOURSELF. You evidently are a poor professional if you are that intolerant and ignorant.

Thank **** for the men of Honour in this thread too helping to demonstrate the inappropriate nature of some of the posts and some of the notions of professionalism.
Malc and Bigstan. Thanks.

 

[pitchfork]

I'd just have a quiet word with him if it's really that bad. If you smoke outside it is undetectable nearly but smoking in your car/ house or whatever and not changing your clothes enough is probably his problem.
I smoke indoors so I probably have a bit of a smell on me.

A lot of the guys on the production line in our place used to have hygiene problems, i just said it's part of the job to come to work dressed appropriate and with no strong odours, ie. no horrible aftershave and clean.
Nothing noticable now.

 

[Nebzor]

For me, if there's a genuine concern his 'odour' will have a negative effect on his performance in the role it is all well and fair to bring it up with him.

P.S. Bigstan - you are stating that non-smokers not taking smoke breaks should be condemned for personal emails etc. yet it is quite obvious the vast majority of smokers do this too and also get smoke breaks.

If I was in a position to employ I would state smoke breaks come out of your lunch hour. I'd be paying you to be at your desk/wherever you work for x hours a day, regardless of whether or not you smoke.

 

[Voltar]

Well, personal emails etc = vague territory.

There is nothing stopping non smokers from joining the smokers on breaks is there not?
Coffee break can coincide with smoke break or whatever.
Don't see why we can't all get along tbh.

Bad breath? Now that's the worst of all tbh.

 

[Nebzor]

Well, personal emails etc = vague territory.

There is nothing stopping non smokers from joining the smokers on breaks is there not?
Coffee break can coincide with smoke break or whatever.
Don't see why we can't all get along tbh.

Bad breath? Now that's the worst of all tbh.

I guess it depends on the employer, but I'm sure some would kick up a fuss if a non-smoker just went and stood with the smokers every time they went for one.

And I don't know whether you specifically aimed it at those who detest smoking, but I'd say the vast majority of non-smokers don't "not get along" with smokers, they just don't appreciate the unpleasant smell and passive smoking that comes along with being around them come cig time.

 

[Voltar]

Most of my mates are non smokers and its 50-50 at work atm. We all get along fine. Called consideration for others and open mindedness.

 

[semi-pro waster]

There is nothing stopping non smokers from joining the smokers on breaks is there not?
Coffee break can coincide with smoke break or whatever.
Don't see why we can't all get along tbh.

Although then no-one is covering the phones (say), there are reasons why you wouldn't all just take breaks at the same time but I agree with the general principle. If smokers get time off to deal with their craving then it only seems appropriate that other people can equally have a proportionate amount of time to spend on what they want to do - be that praying, having a coffee break or checking their emails etc etc.

Bad breath? Now that's the worst of all tbh.

Smoking/coffee related bad breath or otherwise? Both tend to leave sour smelling breath, depending on the length of time from the persons last cigarette I sometimes find coffee breath to be worse. I'm pretty sure everyone has some unpalatable habits though, it is just that some are easier to deal with or cover up.