Oh you Smoke? Employers getting strict on hiring Smokers.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I guess it depends on the job. Where it used to piss me off was when I had crappier jobs, jobs where there's a bunch of people doing the same job, and half the employees taking 6-7, 10 minute smoke breaks over the course of day had nothing to do with them being able to do their job better. It just meant they did an hour less work than the non-smokers in an eight hour shift.

This is the one that gets me. I don't mind smokers having a smoke, that's their decision. I have yet to meet a smoker who couldn't wait for their real break to have one. They just don't like to. Tough. I worked for one company that really cracked down on this, and lo and behold, all the smokers who were taking hourly smoke breaks all the sudden could live with just smoking during their two 15's and their lunch break just fine all the sudden.

This is something that an employer really needs to crack down on, if smokers are abusing it. There's no reason for that.

[Boblobla]

Meh, I have never worked with a smoker whose smoke breaks added to my workload. Not a huge fan of getting into an elevator with the crew coming back in from outside but I don't find it any more offensive than the ####### who microwaved fish for their lunch the last 2 days. That stink hung around for hours.

I used to smoke and I don't like the smell but not hiring smokers seems like a limit to the potential talent pool that I can't see adequate justification for.

[DuffMan]

If an employer is gong to crack down on people wasting company time while out smoking, then they should also tackle, personal phone calls, personal internet surfing, personal emails, and of course standing around talking about personal business or who won Survivor last night.

I used to smoke, I used to take smoke breaks, I used to never feel guilty when I looked around at how much time others spent sharing their personal lives with each other.

[Boblobla]

I am 99% sure that my coworkers who smoke spend less time smoking than I do on the internet every day.

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Makarov

In fact, no, employers cannot test for drugs and alcohol on a whim.

Not on a whim, but you can do it for numerous non-whimsical reasons.
Pre-employment testing
Site access testing
Post incident testing
Annual testing
Probable cause testing

You can also run drug dogs through their room and use probable cause to test anyone the dog feels is suspicious.

[Burninator]

Re: Smoke breaks. When I was younger I had a part time job in a kitchen so obviously when smokers took their breaks us non-smokers had more work to do. Myself and a fellow non-smoker decided to take our own non-smoking smoke breaks. That experiment lasted all of one time. Really crappy considering we didn't get regular breaks to begin with. Also smashing plates is a great stress reliever.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I assume the main argument will be 'why can you single out smokers for unhealthy life choices but not the obese?'

As a smoker, it's pretty much 100% cut and dry the individual making a conscious choice to repeatedly inhale toxic fumes that will have a negative effect on their health. There are no side benefits of any sort to smoking. It's all bad for you. It's also completely within the individuals control whether or not they smoke or not.

True the same could be said for some obese people who repeatedly choose to consume unhealthy foods and do not exerise which also leads to poor health. However, people do need to eat. There are also other reasons beyond an individuals control that can lead to obesity. So the key word for me is some.

Whereas there is a grey area with the obesity there is no such thing with smoking. Two different things in my eye.

[calumniate]

I've moved onto the electronic cigarette and could not be happier. Yes, I'm still addicted to nicotine and still go for 'smoke breaks'. I'm still attached and fond of the habit, and it's a great way to pull away from projects and re-think things. (Going for a break can sometimes be productive, depending on what you do).

Also nicotine, when removed from tobacco is a great stimulant (like coffee) and can help asthmatics. Ever wonder why asthmatics like to smoke? Well, it gives them temporary benefit - however the long term effect of tar and carcinogens slowly pull you down.

I'll probably never give up nicotine, but I'm happy I've moved on from cigarettes. Electronic cigs are one of the best inventions.. I'm surprised they're not more popular but it is gaining traction. I love the fact my clothes no longer stink etc.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by calumniate

I'll probably never give up nicotine, but I'm happy I've moved on from cigarettes. Electronic cigs are one of the best inventions.. I'm surprised they're not more popular but it is gaining traction. I love the fact my clothes no longer stink etc.

Off topic, but I saw some lady flip out at some goth/punk/scene/alternative/whatever girl yesterday for "smoking" an e-cig too close to her. The girl politely explained that it was just water vapour, but the woman melodramatically swept the back of her hand across her forehead and exclaimed "You're a liar! My asthma is acting up and it's your fault!".

It never really occurred to her to go somewhere else I guess.

Originally Posted by pylon

Smoking is an outdated relic of the past, and the sooner they just outright ban it, the better.

I'm an ex-smoker as well, but that's pretty...uh...authoritarian of you.

[Weiser Wonder]

I think it's wrong for a couple of reasons.

1. Most smokers start before 18 and smoking is highly addictive.

2. What you are taught about smoking is probably going to depend largely on where you are brought up and what class you are. I know in Idaho there are a lot of parents that don't teach their children the basics about health and safety.

I think the far better way to go about this is to provide a supportive atmosphere for employees to quit smoking.

As far as the smoking breaks thing goes, in my opinion everyone should be able to work at their own pace and be able to take some time to chill throughout the work day. So just allow everyone to take the equivalent of a smoke break when they need it.

Originally Posted by Dion

When smokers went for their usual break I'd wait till they got back and then tell them i'm going for a fresh air break. Of course they'd go WTF are you talking about. My reply was fresh air from that stench that is in your clothes. They never knew just how bad thier clothes reeked of cigarette smoke.

Wow, that's pretty much abusive. I'd rather work with 100 smokers than one clever put down artist such as yourself.

[darockwilder]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I am 99% sure that my coworkers who smoke spend less time smoking than I do on the internet every day.

And I'm sure none of them spend any time on the internet as well.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

Wow, that's pretty much abusive. I'd rather work with 100 smokers than one clever put down artist such as yourself.

Look out, or he'll passive-aggressive you to death.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by darockwilder

And I'm sure none of them spend any time on the internet as well.

Maybe, maybe not. Doesn't affect me so I dont give a ####.

[kootenayguy9]

Thanks for posting this article. Will definitely use this article for a discussion in my high school Social Studies class.

[Canuck-Hater]

Alberta smoking rates in case anyone was wondering:

http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/2499.asp

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Weiser Wonder

I think it's wrong for a couple of reasons.

1. Most smokers start before 18 and smoking is highly addictive.

2. What you are taught about smoking is probably going to depend largely on where you are brought up and what class you are. I know in Idaho there are a lot of parents that don't teach their children the basics about health and safety.

I think the far better way to go about this is to provide a supportive atmosphere for employees to quit smoking.

As far as the smoking breaks thing goes, in my opinion everyone should be able to work at their own pace and be able to take some time to chill throughout the work day. So just allow everyone to take the equivalent of a smoke break when they need it.



Wow, that's pretty much abusive. I'd rather work with 100 smokers than one clever put down artist such as yourself.

That would be wonderful, unfortunately it does not reflect the reality of the vast majority of businesses and vast majority of industries. Things need to get done, and not when people feel like doing them.

[The Yen Man]

I think the whole "smokers taking more breaks" thing is a bit overblown TBQH. The people who don't smoke find other ways to take 10 minutes off here and there, whether they're grabbing another coffee, chatting with co-workers, or surfing the internet going on FB, CP, etc. It's all the same, but you just notice it more for smokers because they always have to go to the same place to smoke.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I think the whole "smokers taking more breaks" thing is a bit overblown TBQH. The people who don't smoke find other ways to take 10 minutes off here and there, whether they're grabbing another coffee, chatting with co-workers, or surfing the internet going on FB, CP, etc. It's all the same, but you just notice it more for smokers because they always have to go to the same place to smoke.

You could argue that smokers do all that and take smoke breaks...

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by KTrain

You could argue that smokers do all that and take smoke breaks...

I guess so, but if productivity turns out to be the same between the two, does it matter that much?

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by KTrain

You could argue that smokers do all that and take smoke breaks...

Agreed. When I smoked I would go for my break (most smokes weren't on scheduled breaks though), get a coffee on the way back up then check CP, Facebook, the Herald and anything else I could think of before drudgingly getting back to work. That being said, I absolutely hated my job.