rights on smoking and leaving the building?

Question

i have just started work for london clubs casinos, after being a smoker for 30 years they are now telling me i cannot smoke anywere in the building. and i cant go through the doors till the end of my shift.also that we have to wear high heels for the duration of the shift 8 hours? and they have taken the computer stools away saying we have to stand is any of this right

Answer 1

Are you a wingeing pom!!

Answer 2

The right & freedom to choose. If you choose to be a smoker, then as long as you do not directly affect the health of someone else, then you can do whatever you want. The problem here is that you will need to take frequent breaks to smoke and that will probably be considered a waste of the working hours. To be honest, I think the only valid issue here is the stools, standing up for extended periods everyday does have negative health affects on your nervous system and back. As for the smoking and the high heels, they are part of the job and you had to ask during the interviews or it can be argued that you should have known.

I think that a combination of high heels and no sitting has a good foundation for a suit and at least a complaint. Both affect your health and can cause immediate and near future damage. One last piece of advice, I think you should look for another job.

Good luck

Answer 3

When it comes to heels, you probably have workers rights on that in the UK. The UK has an awful lot of employment rights, and forcing you to wear heels is creating an unpleasant work environment for you and is sexist in nature.

However, when it comes to smoker's rights, you'll find that there is less and less support for such rights these days.

You are basically asking your employer to pay you for 8 hours work, yet you are also asking to take ten minutes an hour to go and smoke, assuming you smoke one cigarette an hour. This means that during 8 hours of work, you actually only work 6 hours and 40 minutes. So why should you get the same pay as someone who doesn't smoke?

In a casino there are other issues too. Allowing you to leave and come back creates security issues, wastes the time of security staff who have to ensure you are not doing anything wrong. Then when you come back in from your smoke break, you are going to stink of cigarettes, which is unpleasant for other staff and customers.

So all in all, it does seem like they have every right to tell you not to smoke. After all, do you think they would tolerate an alcoholic going out for a swig from his hip flask every hour?

It sounds like you need to find another job, since you clearly don't enjoy the one you have.

Answer 4

I don't think smokers should be allowed anymore breaks than any other workers...but if someone else would be allowed to go outside and have a drink, then you should be entitled to have a cigarette instead. I used to get angry at people having *** breaks every hour and getting out of work, but if I was caught chatting then I'd get in trouble. It's as if smokers seem to think they have a right to have a *** break...and they don't!

As for the high heels, I'm not entirely sure. You've chosen to work in this environment, so I guess you have to deal with it. As an employee, I know that they are responsible for your welfare, and if you have a doctor's note saying you suffer from back pain, they would have to either allow you to wear flat shoes, or sit down.

Answer 5

rather than complain look for another job, if the dress code is high heels and you took a job there, then do it....if the dress code was you could not wear jeans to work would you take the job then complain about it?
why should you get special treatment if the non smokers cannot leave the building why should you?..i was a bartender/ waiter we did not get to sit down
i am glad to hear it is not just America that has some lazy , complaining people..lol

Answer 6

As far as the smoking goes, the world has changed - get used to it.

As far as the heels go, I'm in sympathy - was this made clear when you were hired ? If not, they can't make you. If the men do not have to wear 'em it's sex discrimination.

As far as the seating goes, I am certain that employers are legally required to provide seats for their staff for them to use while not actually required to stand (Shops and Offices Act ?) Your union shop steward will know. Not in a union ? Why not ?

Answer 7

I think smoking in a building with nonsmokers is inconsiderate. If you have fewer breaks, you may be able to start breaking your addiction. As for taking away the chairs, that is defiantly wrong, especially if you have to wear high heels.

Answer 8

want to know how nobody on your bus or train on the way to work can make a phone call or even send or receive a text message? for that truly peacful trip to work??

fed up of somone reporting you all the time on there mobile to your boss?

Well with this neat information you can put a stop to all this as you can determine when they can make a call with this info just visit www.ebay.co.uk and type this number in the search box 200043030537 and read the feedback it works

Answer 9

surely you get a break during the 8 hours? if you do get a break you should be allowed to have somewhere to sit down, eat food, drink water/coffee/tea. If your employers aren't treating you right you are better off trying to find another job where you will be treated right.

Answer 10

Maybe you should have done more studying in school so you could have gotten a better job. Smoking should be 100 percent banded. If you want to kill yourself, fine do it away from us non smokers. Why should we have to go down in health cause you bast**** want to light one up

Answer 11

Looks like you've been dealt a bad hand!