My office is at ground level and has full length windows that face the sidewalk. Smokers in the building where I work (but they're not from our agency) stand out on the sidewalk to smoke because the building is smoke free. Unfortunately, they stand and lean right up against my window. Frequently I can actually hear what they are saying, am startled by their laughter, and distracted by their gesturing during conversation. How can I shoo them away without being a witch?
2006-12-09 16:00:15 · 16 answers · asked by RPCV Pacific 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Sorry, should have also said that management won't allow signs in the window.
2006-12-09 16:11:31 · update #1
This is not an issue that you should be dealing with. This is an issue for your HR dept or manager. You should not have to fight the battles of having a disruptive problem of smokers outside the window.
First of all, if you can hear them, it is disrupting your work and you can not be as productive as you would like to be. If the window is open, the smoke can enter the building so therefore, they are indeed TOO CLOSE to the building.
Don't fight this battle...give it to those who are supposed to fight it. That's what they get paid the BIG BUCKS FOR!!! You don't smoke and you don't want second hand smoke bothering you. And you should not be penalized of not getting "fresh" air because management doesn't want to address the smokers.
Good luck and make sure you voice your desire for this to change SOON!!!
2006-12-09 16:14:40 · answer #1 · answered by Kokomira 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well you can be a bit sneaky about it if you don't want them to know who you are.
Step 1 have someone outside the building take photographs
of the smokers. the photographer should not be family or someone who works nearby as you don't want anyone to connect the photos to you. they should also photograph the cigarett butts which im sure are dropped like litter on the street.
Step 2 make a flyer using the photographs
blanking part of the faces of the smokers.
step 3. the text of the flyer should say something like
don't be a litter bug please help keep our environment clean by smoking in the designated areas and disposing of your butts properly.
step 4. make sure the flyer has a map showing the
designated smoking areas ( now this is the sneaky part )
Your window area is never part of a designated area.
if there are no designated areas make them up for your map.
if there are designated areas and your window is one. then
make sure your map of areas does not include your window's area.
step 5. mail a copy of the flyer to every business in the building
including yours.
step 6. repeat step 5 once a week for a month.
step 7 if the above does not work by the end of the month
then repeat this time on each envelope write in colored ink
the name of the manager of the office its addressed to
I mean mark it with something like
Attention John Doe manager of krud corp.
step 8 (if all else has failed)
buy a metal no smoking sign. then sometime late at night when no one is around to catch you. [Check for security cameras] glue the sign on an outside wall of the building near your window.
step 9
try to get photos of smokers near sign. and repeat steps 2-7
2006-12-09 16:53:30 · answer #2 · answered by Syberian 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to, go outside and calmly explain to the smokers that your office is right there and their talk is distracting you from their work. "I don't know if you guys knew this, but I work in the office right behind this window. Sometimes I can hear your conversations out here and it makes it hard for me to get my work done. Could you possibly move to another location?"
2006-12-09 17:04:11 · answer #3 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Politely tell them that their smoke is bothering you. Why worry about telling them.. Most smokers are rude they could care less about non-smokers. It is their second hand smoke that could harm you also. If you have a supervisor, then tell him/her the problem. You are in no way a witch for defending your rights to a smoke/noise free working environment especially from smokers in another facility. I would not hesitate to shoo them away.
2006-12-09 16:11:08 · answer #4 · answered by marsha 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you can stand the smoke (personally I can't) go out and ask them or let the window up and politely ask them not to smoke outside your window. I hope all goes well!!!
2006-12-09 16:07:51 · answer #5 · answered by Sandra, la tica 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, that has to be so very annoying.
Maybe put a cute little sign in the window:
Please do not lean on window (and by the way, I can hear what you are saying).
2006-12-09 16:03:30 · answer #6 · answered by maamu 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Go out and tell them to stay away. You cant work with them standing there. Or tell the management that it distracts you from working. They should do something about them being there.
2006-12-09 16:15:07 · answer #7 · answered by amberpurkey2003 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask the boss for a "smoking area" outside. I'm sure the boss does not want those who are actually working to be disrupted. (By the way, if you can hear them, they can hear you too...)
2006-12-09 17:14:24 · answer #8 · answered by Sarah 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
get a sign that say something like "smoking not allowed & will be reported if seen" or put up an annoymous notice
2006-12-09 16:08:33 · answer #9 · answered by wonderwoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you in a smoke free state? if so they have to be atleast 14ft away from windows and doorways to buisnesse's.you could tell your boss or manager,and let the deal with it.
2006-12-09 16:06:59 · answer #10 · answered by I Bleed Black & Gold 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋