Do you think HR handled this right

[Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum]

 Somebody at my job complained to HR because they felt it was wrong that a pregnant coworker was smoking.  Coworker was not breaking company smoking policy BTW.  The HR manager brought pregnant coworker into his office to let her know that somebody complained about her smoking while pregnant. I don't think HR should of said anything to the pregnant coworker & should of told the person complaining to mind there own business. What do you think? 

[meggers5]

I think that the coworker and HR had no damn business saying anything.

[Deleted]

If the person was complaining that she was smoking in a non-designated smoking area then fine. If the only complaint is that she was is smoking while pregnant, HR was out of line. It's not illegal and not against the company policy therefore, none of their business. Certainly not their place to say anything. If I was the pregnant person I'd be filing my own complaint (not that I think it's ok, but still, none of my business).

[nodontdothat]

Out of line, HR shouldn't have been involved.

[arlandria]

I cannot imagine how that was an HR problem.

[cjeanette]

Out of line. Companies who have non smoking policies? Of course. Otherwise no way.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using proboards

[cinderbella]

Nope. HR shouldn't have said a word.

[sugarbear]

No reason to involve HR.

[Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum]

Apr 24, 2014 21:18:35 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

If the person was complaining that she was smoking in a non-designated smoking area then fine. If the only complaint is that she was is smoking while pregnant, HR was out of line. It's not illegal and not against the company policy therefore, none of their business. Certainly not their place to say anything. If I was the pregnant person I'd be filing my own complaint (not that I think it's ok, but still, none of my business).

Coworker was smoking in the designated smoking area. Who should pregnant smoker complain to about HR getting involved? Company only has 100 employees 

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2014 21:23:06 GMT -5 Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum said:

Apr 24, 2014 21:18:35 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

If the person was complaining that she was smoking in a non-designated smoking area then fine. If the only complaint is that she was is smoking while pregnant, HR was out of line. It's not illegal and not against the company policy therefore, none of their business. Certainly not their place to say anything. If I was the pregnant person I'd be filing my own complaint (not that I think it's ok, but still, none of my business).

Coworker was smoking in the designated smoking area. Who should pregnant smoker complain to about HR getting involved? Company only has 100 employees 

not sure.  It was the HR manager who talked to her?  Do they have a boss?  I'd start there if I were going to pursue it. I'm pretty straight forward though in those types of situations and might have just told the HR manager up front that I was not breaking any company policies or any laws and therefore this wasn't really an HR type of issue.  

[isabel]

I think I would be making my own complaint to HR about feeling harassed by my HR department for doing something that is legal and completely within my rights.

Why the fuck would they say something to her!?

(I don't smoke, but I don't get to have a say about people who do.)

[Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum]

Apr 24, 2014 21:26:34 GMT -5 TamiTaylor said:

Why couldn't the complainer just leave some phampletes about the dangers of smoking while pregnant on the coworker's chair like a normal person?



















I'd judge the hell out of the pregnant coworker but wouldn't involve HR. What kind of setting do you work in? I could maybe see that happening at a hospital. Don't they usually have a policy with regards to smoking?

My company has nothing to do with medical or healthcare industry

[Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum]

Apr 24, 2014 21:31:24 GMT -5 @bostonjen said:

Apr 24, 2014 21:23:06 GMT -5 Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum said:

Coworker was smoking in the designated smoking area. Who should pregnant smoker complain to about HR getting involved? Company only has 100 employees 

not sure.  It was the HR manager who talked to her?  Do they have a boss?  I'd start there if I were going to pursue it. I'm pretty straight forward though in those types of situations and might have just told the HR manager up front that I was not breaking any company policies or any laws and therefore this wasn't really an HR type of issue.  

Coworker has no problem speaking her mind and did tell HR that it is non of their business if she smokes while pregnant 

[Mrs. Ralphie Wiggum]

Apr 24, 2014 21:54:54 GMT -5 toledo said:

It's you, right?

No

[WOT?*]

HR did not handle it correctly. There was no law, regulation or policy broken and thus no cause for complaint. HR should have told the complainant this and butt out. Pregnant smoker co-worker should file a complaint with HR head or division head directly above HR if it was the department head that spoke with her or if it was done with knowledge or approval of Dept Head.

[niki]

None of HR's business, but this might be a great time to institute a new rule about no smoking on company property!

[Deleted]

*eyeballs 7 posts*

[olegregg]

None of their business

[SKP82]

Apr 24, 2014 21:56:14 GMT -5 nicbreeful said:

*should have.

And they were wrong to get involved.

And *their

[SKP82]

It is not illegal for a pregnant woman to smoke. Because she was not violating any company policy, the coworker had no business going to HR. Furthermore, HR had no reason to discuss this complaint with the pregnant employee.

Can pregnant employee be ridiculous and complain about the employee who unnecessarily complained about her smoking? Maybe the HR manager will speak to that employee about frivolous HR complaints.

[maggiemoo]

Unless she lit up in a non-smoking area, there is nothing to to do. It my be gross and frowned on, but it is not illegal.

[sonrisa]

HR handled it wrong. I can see someone spinning this as harassment or discrimination based upon a medical condition. But is coworker so proud of her addiction and bad decisions that she needs to escalate the issue? Just let it go. Having the right to make a stink about something doesn't mean you have an obligation to do so.

[wambam]

Our trolls are so boring lately

[Deleted]

Totally agree with sonrisa. Can pg co-worker complain? Sure. Should she? Ummmm, only if she wants to draw attention to the fact that she has horrible judgment and was SMOKING WHILE PREGNANT. Holy shit. Are some of you unfamiliar with winning the battle to lose the war?

[catwithspots]

Apr 24, 2014 21:54:54 GMT -5 toledo said:

It's you, right?

that's what I thought too...

I would think the normal response would be for the smoker to have a semi-embarrassed reaction, yet instead of thinking about the health implications to the baby, is more worried about getting back at HR. Yeah, that's some priorities right there.

Best to your baby

[Deleted]

People need to mind their own business.

Who cares if she was smoking. This is not a work issue.

[laurental]

Since this coworker is not "you", there is no way that you can be certain of the exact conversation that occurred.

It is possible that coworker complained to HR and that HR informed the smoking pregnant woman that a complaint had been made. Yes what coworker was doing was not illegal, but discussing a complaint is also not illegal.

For example, if Johnny smells like cat piss on the daily and a coworker complains HR would likely talk with him. Is it illegal to smell like cat piss? No. Should HR mind their own business? Perhaps. But HR generally has the right to discuss issues that other employees bring to them especially if they are issues that could be affecting someone's performance or the business (and the business' image)

If HR threatened your coworker and told her not to smoke then perhaps they legally crossed a line, but since you were apparently not there, you do not know.

[Deleted]

Apr 25, 2014 10:38:25 GMT -5 laurental said:

Since this coworker is not "you", there is no way that you can be certain of the exact conversation that occurred.

It is possible that coworker complained to HR and that HR informed the smoking pregnant woman that a complaint had been made. Yes what coworker was doing was not illegal, but discussing a complaint is also not illegal.

For example, if Johnny smells like cat piss on the daily and a coworker complains HR would likely talk with him. Is it illegal to smell like cat piss? No. Should HR mind their own business? Perhaps. But HR generally has the right to discuss issues that other employees bring to them especially if they are issues that could be affecting someone's performance or the business (and the business' image)

If HR threatened your coworker and told her not to smoke then perhaps they legally crossed a line, but since you were apparently not there, you do not know.

Not if the issue relates to a protected class or condition. Like pregnancy. Which is why HR should have not said anything.

[Deleted]

I don't mind trying to embarrass the pg woman.

[katie4253]

NO WAY! Yikes. Seriously. HR could be in trouble for giving her a "talking to". HR should have told the complainer to mind their own business.

I am very anti-smoking. But, it is also not my business. Also, I have heard in rare cases, a doctor tells a woman to just cut back as much as they can (but not stop completely) because the sudden shock of quitting would be worse.