How do I shape employees' behaviors this way?

Question

My firm creates a new policy on smoking. Employees who smoke are encouraged to quit by being sent to seminars and counseling. Under this policy smokers are regularly visited in their work areas by counselors who urge them to quit. Non-smoker employees are encouraged to report colleagues who smoke to the counselors, so that the counselors can keep an accurate count of smokers in the organization. The company is trying to ensure the long-term health of its employees, but has it gone too far? Does an organization have the right to try to shape its employees' behaviors in this way?

Answer 1

It probably has something to do with insurance liability. It costs more money to pay for insurance for those participating in "risky" behavior like smoking. If employees quit, the company won't have to pay as much.

Answer 2

I smoke rarely. I used to smoke regularly in the past. One idea that will be acceptable to smokers and will satisfy your needs is as follows:

Create a very boring smoking area. This can be a room with a few chairs and a table, having good ventilation. Avoid print media, TV or any other stuff that will allow a person to put his hand on while smoking. Plan the smoking area is such a way that smokers will not walk around or engage in any other time-pass other than smoking. You can do this by providing ventilation near the ceiling and preventing outside views etc. Provide lighters, cigarettes and mints etc which are required for smoking in this area for the use of smokers. Do not target smokers as bad people or a liability and make the room too uncomfortable.

Make it a rule that those who want to smoke should go to the smoking area. Frequent encounters with fellow smokers (darn! that jerk is in the room again! OR my dear! this is the third time we see each other here today etc…), the boring room, the lack of the ability to engage in the mannerisms and styles associated with each individuals smoking habits and things like this will make smoking less attractive to the smokers.

Some will quit in a few days of this experince. Those who cannot quit due to addiction will continue but the number of cigarettes will come down to the lowest possible in a few months time.

I live in India. I hope this will work where ever you have your firm.

Answer 3

Let me start wih a question for you that IS related even though most people would be reluctant to admit it -----
Does this company have a similar policy toward people who are obese and continue to overeat ???
Does this not adversely effect their health ?? Does this behavior not cause a myriad of serious health problems ?? Do insurance companies not see this as being risky behavior also ?? Does this not cost the company tons of cash in the related problems that it brings to the company's door ?? But yet is it not totally ignored as a problem because it is seen as a "personal choice" thing by almost everyone---as cigarettes are seen as a public risk thing simply from the "second hand smoke" angle even though in most places anymore---the smoker isn't having their smoke ANYWHERE NEAR anyone else----!!!
If the extremely obese individuals are not treated in the same manner---is this not a total and thorough discrimination against the smokers that have been singled out ??? And if the obese individuals are not treated in this manner ----when WILL THEY BE ?? Is there any guarantee that once the behavior exemplified against the smoker has been allowed to stand on the merits that it has been initiated on--- that the powers that be will not THEN come after such people AS the obese---- then after that---WHO ?? Is there some behavior that YOU engage in that could possibily make it to that list sooner or later ?? Where does it end and when do we get back to people being responsible for their OWN choices and behavior ??? Or are we NOW in a place where we will just allow the POWERS to start BEHAVIOR MODIFICATIONS on us to bring us all to the place where we ALL SHARE A COMMON LIFESTYLE AND COMMON VIEWPOINT AND A COMMON PURPOSE AND A COMMON ___________________-----GET MY DRIFT ??? Now tell Me what is going on here that makes sense to you !!!!!

Answer 4

No offense because I'm sure your firm is a great company, but this is a really stupid thing to do. Not only are you trying to get your employees to quit but you're asking their non-smoking coworkers to rat them out for smoking. I understand the reasoning behind wanting nonsmoking employees but still people have their rights. Let people do their job. If they do a great job, but smoke, be happy they are great employees. There is a lot of rational ways you can look at this situtation. Just be openminded.

Answer 5

how do i shape employees' behaviors this way? you are a controlling person and i wouldn't want to work for you. how dare you ask non smoking employees to report colleagues-this causes alot of friction in the office. it will also start gossip and backstabbing,etc. were these people hired to do a job or hired to controll their smoking habits. its not uncommon in todays world for alot of companies to have no smoking at work. that's okay as long as the employee understands prior to hiring. but---to have counselors continue to talk to the employees is just plain harrassment.........so yes you have gone too far.......you are creating a hostile enviornment.

Answer 6

no they dont, not unless smoking becomes illegal..
it is a persons right of free will to smoke if they wish as long as it isn't imposed on anyone else it shouldnt matter

Answer 7

I would say NO. You can encourage me all you want, but if I want to smoke, I'm going to.