AIBU in thinking employers should be able to refuse to employ smokers?

[TiggyD]

1. You should judge aplicants on their decisions. Yes. They chose to smoke which means they're likely to die earlier, smell, be ill etc. They have made a really bad decision: To smoke.

1. If they say they regret their decision but can't give up they're addicts. I would tend to avoid giving known drug addicts or alcoholics a job, and the same goes for tobacco addicts.

You missed out goady when you quoted me

No I'm not Shat. I don't drink. My body is a temple.

A spillchocker chocks your spillings for errors. But not for deliberate malapropisms.

Not related to any dolphins. I wouldn't want to be related to anybody who can fart out their head.

My new employer has done just this. Well, he said, "I can't actually tell you not to smoke ever, but really, I'm saying, don't. It's not something you can hide". This was after I was offered the job. At an "informal chat". I'm trying to give up, very hard, one because I want to and two, because I'm deeply conventional at heart and found the conversation embarrassing. Oh, and I don't want to lose my new job. And they wouldn't be daft enough to sack me for smoking on my own time, but I think employers can look for reasons if they want to.

It's a spellchecker. Not spillchocker.

Gabby, is that you? I haven't been called Shat in such a long time...

I left an Ellipsis in where I took it out Worra.

Sigh. I know exactly what a straw man argument is thanks. My point is that calling something a 'straw man' is management speak bullshit. Which it is. My department has now dropped that wanky term thankfully.

Are you really that hung up about smokers supposedly having an extra ten minute break longer than you? I have to take myself away for my fag break. My colleagues don't for their breaks. Guess who's breaks take longer? I think you are confusing being a smoker with being a lazy, skiving fucker and I'm not really sure why.

I was referring to the porpoise being the dolphins cousin.

It wouldn't work. Almost impossible to police it, as Tiggy said. What people say they do today is not necessarily what they were doing yesterday or what they will be doing next week. Most people, when asked if they smoke on application forms will say no, or will lie about how much. They'll say 'yes but only socially at weekends' or something.

If I were the employer I would avoid employing a smoker if I possibly could, and would even avoid anyone who said they only smoked 'socially.' I know from experience that they are almost always kidding themselves and pretty soon revert to being full time smokers once their feet are under the table.

It would depend on who the employer was also. People have quite opposing views about this sort of thing.

If the employer was a smoker themselves they probably wouldn't give a shit.

Really Fellatio?? I'm honestly interested.

If you had an applicant with a first with honours from Oxbridge but put on their application that they smoked ten cigs a day would you really, seriously reject them in favour of the applicant with the 2:2 from the Uni of South Yorkshire who said they didn't smoke? Really??

I am a smoker and I wish it was a choice, because it isn't.

I have tried many of times and I just can't quit smoking.

In work I smoke less, because I haven't got the stress info at home.

Well it would depend on the job obviously. In the instance you describe possibly not, but if it was a job where I needed to be in close proximity to that person (if I were employing someone as my PA, for example) it would put me off hugely. But then I really, really do detest smoking and I find myself automatically bigoted against people who do it. Not to a ridiculous degree, but it is always there at the back of my mind that they are a lesser person for it. I find it disgusting and I am endlessly bewildered by people who want to do it.

I personally wouldn't employ someone that stunk. BO or smoking. Both offensive.

Fair enough Fellatio good explanation of your position.

Sorry, posted too soon. I had a man come to my house about a year ago as I wanted new windows. As he walked in I could smell it. I asked him to leave immediately be hen he asked why I was honest without being as repulsed as I felt. Why would even a smoker want an employee like that?

If I stopped I would get fat because I eat like I have several tons of worms within my person

I decided to smoke as a super smart and know it all 14 year old. Least it was the smoking that stuck around and not the MD 20/20

You are offended by people who smoke? Oh my.

When the actual fuck did smokers get longer, or more breaks?
Because I have never had one. Ever.

We can't smoke outside the building but the place where I work has kindly made us a little area outside. No one gets a longer break than anyone else, no one gets more breaks than anyone else.

The fact that I smoke has absolutely no relevance to my performance at work. None at all.
And, as someone that does have to interview and employ people, whether they smoke or not is actually not a factor that I judge them on.

Hey maybe employers ought to take on more smokers ... after all they clearly have an addictive personality, so hopefully they could get them to become workaholics

And what if a current employee starts to smoke? Sack them? Or a boss takes exception to fat people (not healthy, always eating, whatever other reason they might find valid)? Can they say no fat people? What about physical features they don't like?

YABVU smoking is legal, and to not employ on that basis alone is a very slippery slope to all discriminztion.

Is this really you Tiggy.
Because it doesn't sound like you at all, you'r usually such a lovely fun poster.
Did you just feel like starting an argument this morning?

I think Tigz is trying to stop smoking hence the mardy arse thread

Have a cig!