How much does your employer need to know?

[DogCalledRudis]

A friend of mine worked as a nanny. Employers asked if she was a smoker, she said no. Ok, all fine, she worked for a month or two. All fine. Then one day (her day off) her employers noticed her outside a pub having a cigarette.
So they fired her -- as she lied to them therefore cannot be trusted.

But really... If she never smoked on the job, what does it have to do with employers if she lights up socially in her free time?

Myself i'm a social smoker. I have a pack of fags in my handbag, but i maybe have one twice a WEEK, not more. If a job required non-smoking, would i be a liar if i applied?

Dont Get Caught.

Depends if it is relevant to the job - in this case I think it's fair enough really. Should have been honest at the outset and whether you smoke is relevant if looking after kids (IMO).

How was the question phrased? In my mind "are you a smoker?" And "do you smoke?" In this circumstance would give 2 answers - typically "a smoker" Is someone who has cigarettes regularly (no difference whether 40a day or one a day), whereas "do you smoke' does cover the "occasionally when I'm pissed" cigs too.

Everytime ive filled out a job application and have signed to say its the truth there is some blurb stating that if you have lied rhen they have the right to follow you. They did not fire her for smoking, they fired her for lying. And im with the employers on this.

fire not follow

If you attend an interview and lie about anything you've been asked about verbally or lied in your CV, the employer has the right to sack you.

She lied. I wonder what sort of reference she will be given by these employers ......

The lying part... Its openness vs. privacy thing

As far as WORK was concerned, she did not smoke.
So how much after work is employer's business?

They wouldn't have done it lightly, getting a replacement is not always an easy task.

If she was excellent apart from that one fag I doubt they'd have let her go so fast. And to be fair to them you have to have a high level of trust for someone working in your home looking after your child.

I think it is about the lying. I once terminated an employee because his CV said he had certain qualifications. We asked him to give us certificates etc which he faffed and prevaricated about (moving house and not sure where they were, needed to get copies, etc). After 6 months we pulled him on it and he coughed that he had never actually passed the exams so was unqualified. He was great at his job, but was in a position of responsibility so we felt that the lie meant we couldn't trust him and he had to go. Ironically if he had said he was qualified by experience and not lied he'd still be with us. I'm completely with the employer. The issue is honesty and trust, not the odd sneaky fag.

Your friend lied. She was in a position of trust and proved herself to be untrustworthy. I wouldn't want somebody looking after my DC if they were dishonest.

They didn't ask her if she smoked at work, they asked her if she smoked and she didn't answer truthfully.

I know in some work places an employer can ask for a drug test, if the drug test is failed then the person would be out of a job.

The person lied on the interview and I would want to know what else she had lied about and does she lie to my face every day.

I have no issue with a smoker looking after my children, I used to smoke myself ( 5 weeks and 2 days free) but I couldn't trust someone who lied to me.

I would have fired her too. If they asked in interview whether she smokes, it matters to them. So (1) she does something that they care about and (2) she lied about it.

It is NOT about the lying. At all. It is all about the smoking.

Imagine in an interview the employer says she works in a chocolate shop. She asks the Nanny if she likes chocolate, Nanny says "Oh no, not for me."

One month later she sees her outside a café having a slice of chocolate cake - is she then fired for lying?!

One month later she sees her outside a café having a slice of chocolate cake - is she then fired for lying?

No. If the employer considers eating chocolate to be as bad as smoking, she gets fired for both reasons. It's about both things - one meaning they can't trust her, the other meaning there is an increased risk of her bringing carcinogenic chemicals into their home.