To think smokers are thoughtless at work

[RooksAndRavens]

There are several smokers in my workplace (school) and some of them I work directly with. During this morning's meeting, the smokers popped in and out several times over the course of 2 hours or so. Everytime they came back in, the smell of cigarette smoke was quite strong and even though two of the ladies tried to cover it up with perfume spray, they did this in the same room. The smell of that was also strong as the spray floated everywhere, even near drinks.

AIBU to think they're being a bit thoughtless to the rest of us? We were in a planning meeting after all.

Honestly, those who smoke don’t realise how much they smell. It’s a horrible, dirty habit. 🤢

Several times in 2 hours? I have a couple of smokers in my team and they can sit through a 2hr meeting. Any longer and we would usually all take a break from the meeting and they can use it as they wish.

The smoke and perfume smell is worse than just smoke to me. I don’t find smoke pleasant at all but this just makes it a sickly smoke. To be fair, neither of of the smokers in my team are people that have the smell clinging to them.

I find gangs of gossipy smokers annoying, difficult to walk through them if their smoking hut is on a thoroughfare. The gossipers go quiet as you walk past.

I also find it annoying that smoking is considered an acceptable break, but going for a 5-10 minute walk (equivalent time out of the office) is frowned upon. it's like the non smokers have to carry the smokers habit.

I have worked in companies where SLT meetings are stopped for a break and the smokers all pile out for their smoke, and the rest of us wait until they come back to restart the meeting. The length of the break time was dictated by the smelly smokers, I left that company pretty quickly, there was lots of rude behaviors.

Yes it is selfish but they don't have a keen sense of smell and think their vile habit trumps everything else. Whenever I've worked in a place where smokers go off every hour for a fag, I have taken the equivalent time to go outside for a quick walk, stretch my legs, have a read etc. Otherwise unfair, but I don't think any boss would ever address this issue of them working maybe an hour less than non smokers.

I hate having to sit near a smoker at work, I have bad asthma (under a consultant) and cigarette smoke is one of my main triggers. So smelling the smoke on their clothes triggers coughing and makes me need my inhaler.

Fortunately no-one in my team smokes anymore and I hope it stays that way.