Do you think in today's age that smokers shouldn't get to smoke while at work?

Question

To create a safe and healthy environment for all workers, do you think businesses should be more proactive to get their employees to quit or ban smoking on the premises entirely? I think it's unfair when a non-smoker doesn't take their 15 minute breaks, however, the smoker steps out 5-6 times a day for a smoke - averaging 5-7 mins. per outing. Is that really fair? Especially if your business provided healthcare benefits and everyone else is affected by the smoker's policy.

Answer 1

I do think it is unfair that my smoking co-workers get special benefits for going outside and killing themselves and reaking havoc on the healthcare system.

Answer 2

Where I work the salary workers can have all the smoke breaks they want (and they do!) but the hourly workers can only smoke during the 2 fifteen minute breaks.

However the salary workers are more skilled, so arguebly if they were told they had to not smoke at work they might just go work somewhere else, which would be very bad for the company. Personally, as long as they don't smoke around ME and as long as they get all of their work done properly, they can smoke.

I know one hospital here banned smoking during work (even on breaks/lunch), or SMELLING like smoke, as well as smoking ANYWHERE on the hospital property. They also offer their employees nicotine patches/gum and have 'quit smoking' programs.
It is good for the hospital, but the situation is different for other businesses.

Answer 3

I do not think that people should smoke at work. It really is detrimental for their health, and the health of people around them. It can be just as much harm to be breathing the secondhand smoke as it is to be smoking the cigarettes. I think the businesses should ban smoking, but they would lose quite a few employees. It is rather unfair, isn't it?

Answer 4

i wouldn't care if they get more breaks. they are killing themselves while you are staying healthy. i don't consider it a break to go smoke a cigarette. think about it. they are going out of their way to kill themselves. let them do it. yes i think they should be allowed to smoke so long as it does not affect anyone else. but either go to the front or back of the building so the rest of us can go outside for a break without inhaling their smoke. OH, and the healthcare policy is another thing. it's up to the boss to impose such rules and it has and is being done in many work environments. that's up to the boss, though.

Answer 5

It's not perfectly fair, we all see that. But if they had to smoke indoors, we ALL would become ill much more often. Perhaps in the future the rules will even out more, but I am SOOOO glad they can't smoke indoors anymore! The costs to employers are being discussed a great deal lately, so for now, lets be grateful they have to go out, even if it does give them a bit more free time.

Answer 6

Obviously you are a non smoker and I'm curious as to where you got your statistics that at smoker takes frequent 5-7 min breaks. I am a smoker and I only take my breaks that i am entitled to and i leave the premises to do so ,that way i am not bothering anyone with my smoke. You try to categorise all smokers and that's not fair we aren't all arrogant time wasters. .And you may need to research your stats before making such a generalised comment.

Answer 7

I work for a hospital and they are in the process of banning smoking for patients and employees altogether. I do not smoke and I think it is hilarious all these smokers flipping out.

Answer 8

Being around people who smoke all my life, I completely think that not only should smoking be banned in the work place, but it should be banned in any public area. For people who don't smoke, the smell and the smoke is really bothersome.

Answer 9

Most work places ban smoking and those that don't, make the people smoke outside or in their offices. I definitely would not work somewhere where smoking was allowed in common areas. Second hand smoke is dangerous.

Answer 10

Its either you werent really inhaleing, takin real small tokes or you just got strong lungs. I got smokers (tobbaco) lungs now fron cigars so if i ever toke dope i dont feel it when ever anyone else is coughing and gaggin its funny. Theres nothing wrong with you dont worry. Far as the smokeing and dizzy goes you just got light headed off the smoke happend for the first month to me when i started smokeing at like 12ish. Boys dont drink and smoke dope tho, does nothing but bad.