Smoking and the workplace

[Brit]

Would you work for someone who routinely reeks of cigarette smoke? Like to the point where you smell like it after a short hallway conversation with the person? Does it matter how good the opportunity is?

Conversely, if you live in a state where smokers are not protected, would you hire a smoker?

I started to think about this after I got smoke bombed by a pack of smokers who wanted to chat with me on their way back from a smoke break.

[mainewifey]

Coming from the standpoint of a former smoker I'd say I probably would not work for them - mostly because I'd be afraid of the temptation to smoke again.

If I weren't a former smoker and I had no allergies or sensitivities I would most likely have no problem working there.

I'd probably think twice about hiring a smoker, however. Possible increases in insurance premiums, increased numbers of sick days, lost time due to smoke breaks, would all weigh in on that decision.

[GracieLouFreebush1]

If I had the luxury of turning down a job to avoid working with someone who stinks (cigarettes or otherwise!) I would do so. In reality though, I wouldn't turn down a good job just based on what you described. I do not and have not been a smoker.

If a person is efficient enough to overcome smoke break time, I'd probably hire them. Smokers do take breaks and are unhealthy but non-smokers can definitely find ways to F around on company time and be unhealthy in other ways too so it'd be a person by person decision.

[pamela]

If I had other options, I would choose not to work for a smoker, especially one who did it multiple times during the work day that I had to deal with the aftermath.

I would not hire a smoker if I had a choice. Besides taking extra breaks, I don't want to have to smell them. And their poor decision making to continue to smoke (or by the point, unless they're close to retirement), to have started smoking in the first place. Flammable opinion, I know.

[EmmieB1025]

I work in an office trailer with 7 other people. I am the only nonsmoker. They all reek and when they take smoke breaks the smell is overwhelming. The smell is disgusting to me, but I wouldn't quit my job because of it.  

The fact that they all take numerous smoke breaks throughout the day pisses me off. 

[mainewifey]

Mar 18, 2013 11:34:07 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

non-smokers can definitely find ways to F around on company time

:::looks around for my boss::: you mean like chatting on message boards on company time?  Obviously I'm totally guilty, and it never even crossed my mind. 

[GracieLouFreebush1]

Mar 18, 2013 12:06:38 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

Mar 18, 2013 11:34:07 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

non-smokers can definitely find ways to F around on company time

:::looks around for my boss::: you mean like chatting on message boards on company time?  Obviously I'm totally guilty, and it never even crossed my mind. 

Haha!  That's what I was getting at!    I'm guilty too, of course.

[Wines Not Whines]

I don't think it would prevent me from taking a job, or from hiring someone.

I work on a "campus" and the entire campus is tobacco-free, so I wonder how the smokers deal with it. I know they can leave on their lunch break, but it would be really difficult for someone to take multiple smoke breaks if they work here. I would hire a smoker as long as they knew they couldn't take extra breaks.

[leeluu]

As I get a headache just being near a smoker, I definitely would not work for someone who smoked.

[D2M]

Meh, I've worked for some amazing bosses who happened to be smokers. I do not love the smell and it's obviously not healthy but it did not make them bad managers. I also have never smelled like smoke just from standing next to someone who has come in from a smoke break. I did work in an office where many smokers gathered outside and I had to walk through the plume to get in/out, and that was somewhat annoying. I probably smelled like smoke for 5 seconds, though, and then it went away. The co-workers who annoy me MUCH more are the people who chew ice, microwave nasty-smelling food, slurp their drinks and/or have extremely long/loud, personal phone conversations every day.

[aurora]

I would avoid both if I could, but I am very sensitive to the smell of smoke and get nauseous and headachy even from secondhand smoke. Also from many synthetic scents (lotions, cologne, air "fresheners") so I could try to avoid working for or hiring people who smelled strongly of any of the above.

[Deleted]

Mar 18, 2013 12:06:38 GMT -5 mainewifey said:

Mar 18, 2013 11:34:07 GMT -5 GracieLouFreebush1 said:

non-smokers can definitely find ways to F around on company time

:::looks around for my boss::: you mean like chatting on message boards on company time?  Obviously I'm totally guilty, and it never even crossed my mind. 

This is me. I mean, I wrote an entire blog post (2... today) while at work. I do this regularly.

ETA: I'm bothered by smoke/secondhand smoke but would not choose to turn down a job/not hire someone who is a smoker if the situation was otherwise beneficial.

[Brit]

I hadn't even considered the aspect of time spent outside smoking. I work in an environment of mostly salaried employees, many of whom attend meetings at ungodly hours of the morning and night. It is very much a 'get your sh!t done whenever and however' kind of environment. I was more thinking about it from the perspective of aurora; I am a total pansy and I get migraines that are triggered by smells such as smoke, perfume, flowers, and certain spices.

Anyway, I'm not in either of those positions (hiring or changing jobs), but the smell of the people coming in from smoking made me think about what I would do if I had to work closely with them each day. I'd probably have to double up on Zyrtec and hope for the best. I suppose that I'm lucky that I don't work with anyone with an offensive odor right now!