I don't want this to turn into a debate about the rights and wrongs of smoking restrictions and protection for non-smokers. Rather it is about whether people who smoke should respect an organisation's smoking policy once one has been introduced, especially if concessions havwe been written into it to try and accomodate smokers.

Personally I think it should be respected. What do you think?

Yes, I think the answer to this is entirely obvious. Especially if it accomodates smokers.

I am intrigued about why you ask? Is there a situation where it's justifiable that a smoker not respect a smoking policy?

If not respecting it will result in discipline then they will otherwise they won't.

Seems obvious, yes.

-PK-

Originally posted by theflyingfish
Yes, I think the answer to this is entirely obvious. Especially if it accomodates smokers.

I am intrigued about why you ask? Is there a situation where it's justifiable that a smoker not respect a smoking policy?

Yes. I know of a situation where a smoking policy has been in place for four years yet there are fairly regular breaches of it but nobody says anything. It is especialy annoying as quite a few concessions were demanded, and gained, by some of the smokers at the time.

Then there is a strong grounds for complaint or union action; it is a health and safety at work issue.

Originally posted by theflyingfish
Then there is a strong grounds for complaint or union action; it is a health and safety at work issue.

It depends on how they are breaking the rules, the rule might be "no one can smoke in the carpark at the front of the building", if people do they are ignoring the policy, but they are hardly hurting anyone.

Only a smoking anarchist would vote no.

No it is a social rather than a work situation so obviously things like unions and health and safety at work don't apply. It is a question of principle as much as anything, a rule has been set and some people don't stick to it - at least not all the time.

What is the rule thats being broken ?

i went out for a meal with a few friends last year and one of the girls had finished eating and lit up a cig, it was a no smoking area and granted we were getting ready to leave but all the other customers were still eating. I was disgusted at her attitude "tough i have eaten and i want to smoke"!!!

i myself am a non smoker and have nothing against smokers, but i have seen so many disregard the signs and rules

Originally posted by nick2
What is the rule thats being broken ?

Basically there are several rules in the policy and more than one is broken. For example people are not closing a door while they smoke outside a room which is supposed to be non-smoking and of course a lot of the smoke just come back into the room. Also people often smoke in another room which is supposed to be non-smoking.

Smoking is allowed in the biggest room but peopel are supposed to keep away from non-smokers whilst smoking and there have been cases where one person in particular deliberately walks up to a group of non-smokers with a cigarette in her hand. I suspect she is just doing it to be awkward as she has said several times that she doesn't believe in any kind of smoking restrictions anywhere.

Originally posted by slimsid2000
Basically there are several rules in the policy and more than one is broken. For example people are not closing a door while they smoke outside a room which is supposed to be non-smoking and of course a lot of the smoke just come back into the room. Also people often smoke in another room which is supposed to be non-smoking.

Smoking is allowed in the biggest room but peopel are supposed to keep away from non-smokers whilst smoking and there have been cases where one person in particular deliberately walks up to a group of non-smokers with a cigarette in her hand. I suspect she is just doing it to be awkward as she has said several times that she doesn't believe in any kind of smoking restrictions anywhere.

I puzzled as to how that is a social and not a work problem, unless this is in a club or other public place.
In which case it's up to whoever has set the policy to enforce it. If they aren't prepared to enforce it then it may as well not exist.

You could try sticking up an extra notice on the door saying "please close this door", it might be that the people who don't close it aren't doing it deliberately but have rather not realised what impact that will have.

Originally posted by slimsid2000
one person in particular deliberately walks up to a group of non-smokers with a cigarette in her hand. I suspect she is just doing it to be awkward as she has said several times that she doesn't believe in any kind of smoking restrictions anywhere.

Spit in her face and see how she feels!!!! :mad:

I'm 1 of 3 staff in my department.
2 of us are none smokers. The 3rd smokes allover the place.
(We're talking Medical Centre here).
Despite there being NO SMOKING signs & a company policy / re insurance policy dictating otherwise.

The H/S Manager is aware but chooses to overlook the issue, despite my concerns voiced.


:roll:

Easy.

If you don't like the policy quit the job.

No one is forcing a smoker to work in a place where they can't smoke; on the other hand non-smokers have no choice but to breathe the smoke.

Sounds like there are people there just being awkward for the sake of it. I think if I were in your HR department I'd be starting to look at disciplinary actions and formal warnings against staff. In most organisations, very few people, especially those who childishly flout the rules, are indispensable.

joe

Originally posted by redrobbo
Only an smoking anarchist would vote no.

He he he you got me!!

Yes if I was in charge of a company ,I would have a strict Smoking Policy.
Everyone would be forced to smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day or alternatively 5 small cigars.Anyone found not smoking would be given a verbal and , then , if necessary , a written warning.
There would be an annual presentation to the , "Gasper of the Year " and regular staff outings to Belgium in a big white van.
If any of us lived long enough we would have 10 cigarettes a day [or the equivalent in rolling tobacco ] added to our pensions.

Cheers for that Fareast! :thumbsup:
I now kno, after my shift ends at 8am I can go home, jump into bed & sleep soundly knowing someone has given me a damn good larff this weekend... which uptil I read this had been a smiserable as ****

HeeHee!!:hihi:

i clicked no on this .as i thought it meant a for smokers and not the NO smoking poilicy........purely for the fact that i know a few people who suffer greatly from the effects of passive smoking.....i asked them and they are of the opinion that if some who smokes cant respect someones ill health when around people who smoke, why should they care about respecting the smoking policy..
THIS IS THEIR OPINION NOT MINE , also i asked smoking friends and the most common reply was along the lines of they dont give a damn if they want to smoke they will and if they are around anyone who doesnt smoke then that person should move not them esp if there is more than one smoker around in the same group. ....whats that tell you? the non smokers have lost friends who smoke becuase they prefer them not to smoke in the non smokers home when visiting so now they dont bother at all . even though there is an area where a smoker can go. I dont smoke and never have done but do respect those who do and the need & desire too however, i wont allow smoking in my own home. As for an organisation.id vote yes id repsect the needs of those who smoke....

Originally posted by Fareast
Yes if I was in charge of a company ,I would have a strict Smoking Policy.
Everyone would be forced to smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day or alternatively 5 small cigars.Anyone found not smoking would be given a verbal and , then , if necessary , a written warning.
There would be an annual presentation to the , "Gasper of the Year " and regular staff outings to Belgium in a big white van.
If any of us lived long enough we would have 10 cigarettes a day [or the equivalent in rolling tobacco ] added to our pensions.

And have "Sting" music playing in the background:

Every breath you take!

I did forget to mention in the last posting that the written warnings would be written on the backs of cigarette packets , as would the Company's Forward Planning.
Verbal warnings would be on the lines of , "Get lit up-----or get out ".
We would also have plenty of propoganda posters dotted around the office , e.g.a man happily puffing away , with a man in a white coat , retreating in the background. It would read , "A packet a day , keeps the doctor away----as he won't come in your smoke-filled premises, ha , ha , ha "
Or another , "A little puff every day , helps you on your merry way "
In effect , it would be like a doctor's waiting room-----with a difference !

and have someone at the door shouting

"ROLL UP! ROLL UP!

Viking-----and I'd be the first there !

I'm a smoker, (at the moment... i have started smoking again, in the last three months, unfortunately)
but I would not knowingly light up in a no-smoking area...

(although i did, accidentally, in the dev cat, at a meet, a couple of weeks ago. i thought I was sat by the "demarcation" area, between the smoking, and non-smoking area, and was trying to hold a conversation with my friends in the non- smoking area.
then i realised i was further in to the N/S area than i was, so i moved further over to the smoking area.)

A restaurant i use frequently, is a N/S venue, so I will go outside if I need a cig.

Work is the same... It's a n/s building. so again, i , and (most of) the other smokers will go outside for our ciggies.

I intend/hope to try to give smoking up, however ,before too long.

PT

I'm very surprised that not more people have rushed to join my , "YuCanSmoke"Company.

Remember , folks , WE :-
1 Give away a free , disposable lighter , after 6 months unbroken service.

2] Organise special films showing , "Great Smoking Moments of the Cinema " , featuring Humphrey Bogart , numerous French film stars from the '50's & '60's , Marlene Dietrich and all the , "smoking "baddies from 1970 to the present day-----a treat for all the family !

3] A day's visit , free of charge , to the , "pick your own tobacco plant " centre at a secret location in Lincolnshire.{Packet of cigarettes and box of matches provided , gratis , for the journey. No stops necessary}.

All you need to do now , is , cough a couple of times and then wheeze round to our Head Office on Tab Lane. You will be set on in next to no time.

What you need is a flavour of incense they really hate. Burn it on your desk constantly. You may need to try a different one every day until they actually complain, but it should get the point across.

Or you could spray a really 'rose' or 'vanilla' air spray all round the office evey time they light up. It's as much your right to do this as it is theirs to pollute the air with pongy smoke :D

I was a smoker for 16 years and I have only given up 6 weeks ago so I am very aware of various styles of smoking policies!!

When I was a smoker I was a very considerate smoker...I always adhered to the requests of others, smoked outside etc

However, what annoyed me AS a smoker and therefore STILL annoys me now is the huge volumes of fag butts outside public buildings etc where smokers have gone outside to smoke!!

It looks awful and unwelcoming to see a sea of fag ends on the floor!

Outside the building where I work there is a bin which says in very large letters, please extinguish cigarettes in the bin provided, but dispite this request hardly anybody does...they just drop in on the floor and stomp their foot on it!!!

Surely dropping butt ends onto the floor is a littering offence!!

I never chucked my fags ends on the floor or chucked them out of car windows!!

:nono:

p.s.

Additional Attraction to the YuCanSmoke plc.
Other smells , within reason , will be allowed in the personnel activity areas. Incence , sprays of all kinds will be freely allowed to mingle with the wondrous , "bonfire " smell of old tobacco.
However we do regret that bodily odours of any kind will be frowned upon and possession of Beefburgers.....etc.....is a sackable offence.