To think smoking in the workplace and during working hours should be banned?

[Floogal]

Am I alone in thinking that smoking in the workplace and during work time should be outlawed totally in the UK?

1. The health aspect. People may be smoking outside but it still seeps in and we're still inhaling it.
2. The fact smokers get extra breaks. (Beautifully illustrated by that episode of Family Guy).
3. The social and professional cliques that smokers seem to form. Worse when managers or supervisors smoke (beautifully illustrated by that episode of Friends)
4. Doesn't look good on the company if employees are smoking outside. Looks very bad on NHS or council etc when their staff are doing it

We have quite a small staff room and yes, it's not very nice when a colleague comes in from a smoke and the whole room smells.
However it's also unpleasant when the colleague with a body odour issue is in there too.
Extra breaks aren't on but smoking isn't illegal and I can't see how employers would police it.

Smoking should take place in the designated smoking area during break time.

Tea and coffee should be made during the designated break time.

No arguments that way

YABU. I don't smoke at work but I don't mind if people do.

I could do with a cig after reading this and I’ve been quit for 15 long years. Don’t be such a misery

I agree!

People definitely skulk off for a coffee, several times a morning in places I've worked. They may offer the person nearest them one or whatever, but then they both trundle down for a catch up over a coffee in the kitchen area.

There was a thread on here recently where someone couldn't believe she was being asked not to cook scrambled egg and baked beans at some random point in the morning and then eat it at her desk. I'd honestly prefer the smell of stale fag smoke to that and at least I don't have to sit right next to them while they smoke!

For me, smokers probably don't have a lot of choice in the matter if they are everyday smokers. I'd let them keep their extra smoke breaks as long as they aren't excessive. If you want the breaks so much you can always take up smoking. No? Didn't think so.

This reminds me of the threads saying that defecating should be banned at work. Up pop all the people who only poo once a fortnight insisting the rest of us are suffering serious diarhea and bowel disease not to be able to at least wait until we get home from work.

All the stinky coffee and caffeine addiction that makes employer look bad --ban those too?

I can’t believe you’re now trying to ban people getting a drink.
Perhaps we can chain people by their necks to their desk for 10 hours a day to ensure The Man isn’t getting cheated.

Where are you working that smokers get extra breaks? I ensure that people only get the breaks they are entitled to and no more.

Smokers' work habits are more in line with ideas of productive work rhythms anyway. For many types of work, the 50-55 minute hour of focused work is the ideal. It doesn't matter what form of switching-off we do in the recommended down-time, but popping out for a smoke every so often is fine in that scenario.

It is legal in the UK for employers to refuse to employ smokers (although there have been cases where this resulted in a lack of applicants). It is also legal for employers to ban smoking when employees are wearing uniform or a works ID badge - even when away from the place of employment. I was amazed to find that over half the states in the USA have introduced legislation that bans discrimination against people who smoke away from the workplace.

There is almost no evidence that smokers have lower productivity than non-smokers, and there is some evidence that productivity falls when smokers are forced to stop to keep their job.

I smoke in the exact same time that other people get their breaks(twice a day).Some prefer a chat and coffe/tea whatever, I prefer a fag outside and a pee. Well the pee is a necessity.

I'm not a smoker but I think YABU. No company I've ever worked for has authorised extra smoke breaks (in my twenties). Let people smoke if they want to.

when people make hot drinks, they usually tend to make them for others. IME anyway. Otherwise, yes, that is as bad as skulking off for a fag. making hit drinks for everyone may take longer than having a quick cigarette! There's always one or two people who offer everyone else a drink so they can skive off for a while!

I hate smoking and the smell of smoke. I also hate the smell of fish/tuma, curry and eggs. Should these food types be banned too?
I think smokers should be allowed to smoke, but in designated areas

Yep...boils my piss when smokers pop out every hour or so for a break but if l happen to take a quick call on my mobile l get moaned at for it.
Well - the one time that happened l obviously told the manager l
expected him to be speaking to the smokers about their extra breaks and l think he saw my point.
Live and let live etc but that really annoyed me.

I loathe smoking. It smells disgusting, and I seem to have a low physical tolerance for it as second hand smoke makes my eyes run, and my nose blocked, and I gag and choke.

That said, I make coffee, or look at the news, or stretch my legs during the working day to take a regular break every now and again, as recommended, so I find it hard to begrudge smokers going outside for a smoke just as long as they don't sit next to me or breathe over me afterwards.

In your situation, OP, I wouldn't be at all happy about the smoke seeping back in, but otherwise, I feel YABU.

The secondhand smoke is disgusting, they are so unaware and inconsiderate of others, ban it I totally support you OP

Difference is, when people make hot drinks, they usually tend to make them for others. IME anyway. Otherwise, yes, that is as bad as skulking off for a fag.

What is wrong with you? You actually think people shouldn't go off and grab themselves a drink?? Do people like you where you work?

@Whammyyammy

I hate smoking and the smell of smoke. I also hate the smell of fish/tuma, curry and eggs. Should these food types be banned too? I think smokers should be allowed to smoke, but in designated areas

If fish tuna curry and eggs are known carcinogens then yes they should be

@SW1amp

You want to outlaw something because it makes a company look bad?

Shall we make scruffy uniforms and bad service a criminal offence also..?

Yep and sack all the obese healthcare workers...

@WorraLiberty..such a silly comment! I personally would really not care about the BMI of a person looking after me as long as they are kind and caring!

3. The social and professional cliques that smokers seem to form. Worse when managers or supervisors smoke (beautifully illustrated by that episode of Friends)

People form cliques for all sorts of reasons - because they all watch football, or play a sport, or follow EastEnders on TV. Chumming up with fellow smokers is no different from sharing any other hobby or interest.

Depends on the work place I guess.
I don't need to micromanage my team. Some take cigarette breaks, some take their dog for a walk, others probably make 37 cups of tea .... They all need breaks from their desk and their focus.

I have never smoked but you know what? I don’t give a shit what other people do, most of the time I have no idea who smokes out of our office. I know they get their meal break divided up but I’m too busy doing my work to spend time poking my nose into other peoples business, perhaps something you should consider OP

I’m an ex smoker.

Why oh why in theses hideous times would you want to suck a tiny piece of joy from someone else’s life?