Smokers, work and discrimination

[SexyGreyFox]

I've recently failed 3 job interviews and lets assume I failed because I found out I was overweight.
I would have preferred to be given the choice of losing the weight and having the job over a probationary period and if I didn't comply then bye bye.
It could be that at one of the interviews I give myself a number one and looked like a skinhead.
Again (if that was the reason) I would have preferred the choice of growing my hair.

I was working with a beautiful young woman the other week (about 27) and we got back to the class after dinner.
She walked into the classroom and the first thing that hit me was stale smoke and best of it she has to go off the site about 200 yards away in the cold but the smell still lingered.
I have people who call at my house for 5 mins and when they go we have to get the air fresheners out because of the smell coming off their clothes.

 

[Voltar]

Yes, because if I pour a bottle of whiskey over my clothes before I come in, my boss would be totally out of order to say anything.

Hows things over there in fairyland?

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.

 

[jas72]

slightly off topic:-

I work in a company where half the workforce smokes and the other half don't.
The half that smoke are off outside to the shelter for a fag every hour or so. Then they want to take their dinner when they want, whilst the non-smokers generally spend more time working.
Due to the half assed laws I cannot stop them from going for a fag, so the non-smokers complain that they are getting less breaks.

This annoys me as well. I'm not an alcholic but I can say that a beer or two during work would certainly calm me down.

Imagine if I bought some and stood drinking outside with the smokers?

Would this be acceptable? Why is one form of addiction more acceptable than another?

Two pints or a bottle of beer would not impair my work in any way yet I cannot take a break every hour or so to drink.

 

[Stan_Lite]

This annoys me as well. I'm not an alcholic but I can say that a beer or two during work would certainly calm me down.

Imagine if I bought some and stood drinking outside with the smokers?

Would this be acceptable? Why is one form of addiction more acceptable than another?

Two pints or a bottle of beer would not impair my work in any way yet I cannot take a break every hour or so to drink.

As far as pointless analogies go, that has to be one of the most ridiculous I've seen.

Why are non-smokers so bitter because they don't get to stand outside freezing their 'nads off for a few fags every day? Are you really all so petty that you think it's unfair?

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.

 

[badbob]

Why are non-smokers so bitter because they don't get to stand outside freezing their 'nads off for a few fags every day?

I'd happily stand outside for 10 minutes freezing, to skive from work without getting any ear ache from it.

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.

Smokers do that too.

 

[richard smith]

I'd happily stand outside for 10 minutes freezing, to skive from work without getting any ear ache from it.



Smokers do that too.

Then you're just as bad as a smoker and have no right to assume the high moral ground. Honestly, looking at the post count of most of you, you're hardly in a position to moan about a 5 minute fag break with the amount of time you must spend on here.

 

[badbob]

Then you're just as bad as a smoker and have no right to assume the high moral ground.

No, if smokers aren't allowed a break then I wouldn't skive. But why should smokers be allowed to take multiple breaks during the day, not in the tea/lunch breaks? They should get time reduced from dinner breaks, or work x minutes after non smokers leave at the end of the shift.

 

[w3bbo]

What the people who claim 'it's so unfair' seem to forget is that its because of their complaints that smokers have to go outside in the first place.

 

[SteveOBHave]

As far as pointless analogies go, that has to be one of the most ridiculous I've seen.

Why are non-smokers so bitter because they don't get to stand outside freezing their 'nads off for a few fags every day? Are you really all so petty that you think it's unfair?

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.

Goodness that was vehement - who said we were jealous about it? The perspective is from that of an employer no as a fellow workmate. I couldn't care a less if they went out and puffed away but time is money for a business and those little 5 min breaks all add up. From a workmate perspective they stink simple as, I hate the smell and find it offensive.

And really I think I'd rather be an infantile whinger than a moron who gets their jollies from 'freezing their nads off' puffing on a carcinogenic habit forming narcotic.

 

[BigBadBenny]

As far as pointless analogies go, that has to be one of the most ridiculous I've seen.

Why are non-smokers so bitter because they don't get to stand outside freezing their 'nads off for a few fags every day? Are you really all so petty that you think it's unfair?

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.

Amen.

 

[Stan_Lite]

I'd happily stand outside for 10 minutes freezing, to skive from work without getting any ear ache from it.

I'm glad you don't work for me then.

Smokers do that too.

I'm sure they do (I know I do) but can you be sure that smokers do these things equally with non-smokers? The crux of the matter is that almost everybody has a bit of a skive now and again but it's impossible to quantify, the only difference with the smokers is that they do it on a semi-official basis.

I'm sure most employers are aware that their employees do all these things and as long as it doesn't have an adverse impact on productivity, they are willing to turn a blind eye - within reason. I'm sure you'll find that most employers know they will get the most from their employees if they cut them some slack, which includes allowing smoking and a moderate amount of slacking as long as the work gets done.

I'm a smoker and most of my crew are too. I have no problems with my guys nipping for a smoke, as long as it doesn't cause a problem. If any of them sneaked off for a fag when they should be working and it caused problems for the job, there'd be hell to pay.

 

[Stan_Lite]

Goodness that was vehement - who said we were jealous about it?

I did

The perspective is from that of an employer no as a fellow workmate. I couldn't care a less if they went out and puffed away but time is money for a business and those little 5 min breaks all add up. From a workmate perspective they stink simple as, I hate the smell and find it offensive.

I look at it from the same perspective (not as an employer but as a manager). I can draw a parallel here; Most of my crew are Muslims which means they need to pray several times a day. There is no legal requirement for me to allow them time to pray but, for the most part, this activity doesn't affect their ability to perform the work required of them, so why wouldn't I let them do it?
The fact that you "hate the smell and find it offensive" is completely immaterial.

And really I think I'd rather be an infantile whinger than a moron who gets their jollies from 'freezing their nads off' puffing on a carcinogenic habit forming narcotic.

Jollies Who said we enjoyed it?

 

[badbob]

I'm glad you don't work for me then.

You employ people with the same mentality though, it's just that because you're a smoker you allow it. If I have a 5 minute break at the same time as smokers would you be ok with it? Or maybe chat outside with the smokers, even though I don't smoke? From experience smokers do skive, by taking several breaks. After they finish smoking, they hang around waiting for the others to finish. You just either don't see it, or don't want to..

 

[jas72]

As far as pointless analogies go, that has to be one of the most ridiculous I've seen.

Why are non-smokers so bitter because they don't get to stand outside freezing their 'nads off for a few fags every day? Are you really all so petty that you think it's unfair?

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.

LOL @ bigstan's post count. If you smoke stan then you are a double winner

I knew someone would complain about my suggestion. Why is it ridiculous that I can't partake of my fav. form of stress relief on a semi-official basis?

To be honest I don't really care about people's smoke breaks. The smokers where I work are very diligent so I have no beef with them I was merely pointing out the absurdness of the rules which condones one form of addiction
but not the other.

 

[Stan_Lite]

You employ people with the same mentality though, it's just that because you're a smoker you allow it. If I have a 5 minute break at the same time as smokers would you be ok with it? Or maybe chat outside with the smokers, even though I don't smoke? From experience smokers do skive, by taking several breaks. After they finish smoking, they hang around waiting for the others to finish. You just either don't see it, or don't want to..

I don't employ people with the same mentality at all. There's a yawning chasm of difference between the employee who takes 5 minutes a few times a day to take a smoke break and one who would rather stand in the cold for no other reason than it meant he could get 5 minutes away from work.
*Newsflash* - Smokers don't smoke at work so that they can get out of work, they do it because they have a craving.

I wouldn't want you on my team because your work ethic sucks.

I'd happily stand outside for 10 minutes freezing, to skive from work without getting any ear ache from it.

I'd rather have a hard working smoker on my team than a work-shy tobacco fascist.

 

[Karbon]

the issue here is not with smoke breaks, or people running over breaks or extra skiving.

it's that the person reffered to in the OP smells. pure and simple. i would fully expect if i turned up to work smelling of smoke/booze/a farmyard to be told to go shower. if it continued i'd expect to be sacked.

if the person is not willing to meet basic levels of personal hygene such that they do not smell of stale smoke then to me its not something that should be working in close proximity to other people.

 

[badbob]

I wouldn't want you on my team because your work ethic sucks.

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.

 

[w3bbo]

the issue here is not with smoke breaks, or people running over breaks or extra skiving.

it's that the person reffered to in the OP smells. pure and simple. i would fully expect if i turned up to work smelling of smoke/booze/a farmyard to be told to go shower. if it continued i'd expect to be sacked.

if the person is not willing to meet basic levels of personal hygene such that they do not smell of stale smoke then to me its not something that should be working in close proximity to other people.

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.

 

[andyp]

snip/original post/snip

I've never read so much bull **** in my life.

Get a grip man ffs.

 

[SteveOBHave]

I did

Jollies Who said we enjoyed it?

LOL RDM did "But it doesn't kill everyone and most people think "It isn't going to be me". Also some people like it and quite a few people are addicted to it."

If you don't enjoy it then what reason are you left with? Addicted much? That in itself is surely a good reason to look at your reasons for doing it.

I look at it from the same perspective (not as an employer but as a manager). I can draw a parallel here; Most of my crew are Muslims which means they need to pray several times a day. There is no legal requirement for me to allow them time to pray but, for the most part, this activity doesn't affect their ability to perform the work required of them, so why wouldn't I let them do it?
The fact that you "hate the smell and find it offensive" is completely immaterial.

OK fair enough, I go and sit in the bog and play Sudoku periodically as well but it's not effecting to anyone else nor is Prayer time but the smoking thing and personal hygiene surely is?