Smoking in the Workplace

United States
December 22, 2009 6:30pm CST
Many places have banned smoking within the workplace. I do not smoke so it is not a problem for me. My concern though is when I go into a client's home and they are smoking. There are a few places I go to that have company visiting when I am there and they smoke too. Second-hand smoke is deadly. It can cause a plethora of health problems including cancer. This is something that really concerns me. I have asked them not to smoke while I am in the home but they continue despite my pleas. Now I am home and my clothes and hair smell like cigarette smoke. There are at least 2 days a week that I have to tolerate the smoke filled rooms. I feel that there should not be smoking within the homes while we are working for them. Perhaps one day there will be something in writing that requires the client not to smoke while we are there. But, that wouldn't stop them before hand. Some smoke so much that there is a visible fog when you enter the room. People need to realize that not everyone tolerates smoke as well as others. It is a personal issue for those who choose to smoke. Those that don't should not be exposed to the second-hand smoke that is a result of their habit. That is my rant for today. Big huggers to you.
6 people like this
23 responses
@vikkiz (518)
23 Dec 09
I am a smoker and i agree with you totally! I agree they barred smoking in all public areas as even though i smoke i disagree that other people should have to put up with it as its my burden to bear, I also dont smoke in my own home due to the fact i have a 5 year old and do not want him in a smoke filled house therefore i choose smoke in the back garden. The only thing dont agree on was the fact that smoking got banned in night clubs and its not so much the fact of having ot go outside its the fact that when people used to smoke in the nightclubs, thats all you could smell, Now with out the mask of smoke all you can smell is sweat and the stench of the toilets and its very off putting!
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
23 Dec 09
That would be very gross to smell. They need to do something if their plumbing is that bad. On the other hand smoke mixed with sweat is a smell that will make me gag any day.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
I agree that smoking should be banned inside the workplace. I am a non smoker and had lung problems in the past, so somehow, like you, can't tolerate people lighting up inside an airconditioned room. I recently applied for a company here - but noticed the "fog" inside the room and people had been smoking for quite sometime. I was accepted but begged off because of the smoking policy. Personally I have nothing against them but I am not happy inhaling secondhand smoke.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
Follow up - the irony is that there is a No Smoking sign inside the premises.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Dec 09
Sad fact that some smokers will light up regardless of the fact that they are bothering others with the smoke.
@GardenGerty (157555)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Like you, I do not tolerate smoke well, but I am concerned that this will violate their personal rights within their own homes. I do not know what the answer is, other than a high quality mask for you to wear and a place to change and clean up so you do not wear the smell home.
• United States
23 Dec 09
One of my coworkers goes to the local Dunkin Donuts and changes before she goes to the next client. I haven't gone that far yet. But the mask does seem like a good idea.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I don't blame you. I am a smoker but I don't smoke in my house when I have company...in fact when I know someone is coming to visit I don't smoke for hours before they come.....then I use fabrizee....so my furniture etc doesn't smell like smoke. Hopefully you can get this resolved.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Dec 09
They have been trying to resolve the issue for quite some time now. I guess I am going to have to try to do something myself.
@danitykane (3183)
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
hi there! I don't smoke and I am grateful that none of my family member here at home are smoking. Indeed, second-hand smoke is deadly...I have seen and been with peeps that do smoke... and I can actually inhale this cloudy substance coming out of their mouth and it really pisses me off. I hope some are considerate and think of others because smoking publicly do affect someone else's health and ohhh..mood too!lolz Happy Lotting!
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Dec 09
I know a few people who smoke but do it in a place that doesn't bother those who don't smoke.
@poingly (605)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I suppose the question is what are you doing in these people's homes? What kind of work do you do? I think it is relevant.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Dec 09
I am a homemaker for a non-profit healthcare organization.
• India
23 Dec 09
It is not a good thing to smoke at work place and it creates lot of problems to non smoking people.Smoking is very dangerous to our health and it is more dangerous than drinking.I dont like both drinking and smoking,but i tried it once in my life when i was studying in college.I find nothing special in that ,so i decided not to take it in my whole life.Both smoking and drinking is injurious to health and it is better to keep away from this bad habit.With out banning such products,it is very difficult to keep people away from this bad habit.There is limitation in a waring the people about the hazards that caused by this had habit.Self determination is the best method to keep away from this.
1 person likes this
• India
23 Dec 09
smoking itself is a bad habbit and smoking in workpalce and public places is banned in number of countries but these smokers are not carring it. if they smoke it will affect their health. but if they smoke in public places then that will affect the health of many others so it should be avoided by the smokers its self. even there are strict rules we cant manage them so the only solution is to bring awareness among those persons not to smoke in public places as that may result in health problems of other persons.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Hi Elusive and Merry Christmas to you! I am assuming that you are in the health care business? This is pretty sad. There should not have to be something in writing just to get people to be considerate and thoughtful of others! I am a smoker. I don't smoke in my home because it would make it smell bad and it discolors the walls, appliances etc. It would bother my daughter even if I smoked when she wasn't here....the smell lingers and gets into everything. I also have non-smoking friends and I care about them and would not want them to feel uncomfortable when visiting me. If I were you, I'd ask my boss if he could put something in writing that stipulates "NO SMOKING" when you are visiting. You should not have to put up with that.
• China
23 Dec 09
i do not like smoke acutally and i do not think that's a good behavior to smoke on public and let others smoke your second smoke also. that's not a good human deeds actually so i think that's ok to ban smoking on the workplace to keep other's helath and clean air.
1 person likes this
@LADIKEY1 (21)
• United States
23 Dec 09
Most jobs depending on what field you are in. They want people who are non-smokers. They will test you to find out if you are a smoker or not. That's crazy to me. Just has long it doesn't effect your work to em.
@dattyn (1)
• Indonesia
23 Dec 09
i'm is smooker, ithink not to bad to smoke at work place, for some people who smoking include me...smoking can give me an inspitrstion and bringing down from depression, so why not to smok at work place.
@kalens (16)
• China
23 Dec 09
I am not a smoker,and I hate smoking very much. Once I though it's not right to control the smokers,because I saw they were affictive when they can't smoke.But now I hate the somkers,especially the one who smokes around people.
• India
23 Dec 09
I personally agree with Elusive Butterfly.In a place where people socialize such as Office we shouldn't intrude into personal spaces of others,should care for the comfort and discomfort of others.
• United States
23 Dec 09
i always tell my mom not to smoke when we have people here such as visiting nurses. there's no reason she can't wait a bit.i have told her that #1 it's kind of rude,and #2 some are actually allergic to the smoke. she's of the generation that smoked anywhere,anytime,so she forgets sometimes. they always tell her she should quit,but if they want to take up that arguement with her,god bless 'em. i do smoke myself,but not as much as her and not when i know people are coming. it's just respect,y'know?
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
23 Dec 09
I know what you mean. My dad has emphysema, and still smokes. I am sorry they don't adhere to your wishes. It makes it hard. Small concellation, but I agree with you.Hope it gets better.
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
23 Dec 09
They allow smoking where I work but I work in a restaurant so it's not really that uncommon. I don't think you can really complain about some one smoking in their own house. If they pay for their house they should be able to smoke in it if they want to. Plus I also feel like that's a pretty big encroachment of personal freedom to not allow someone to smoke in a house that they pay for.
• United States
23 Dec 09
I understand your concern and, personally, I don't smoke around nonsmokers, especially children but I question the notion of telling folks what they can or can't do within their own space to accommodate you?..Banning in public, tho a bother to some of us, has the public's issues at heart. However, attempting to ban in private? There are nasty repercussions beyond this smoking issue to allowing such a thing to happen and begin a ball rolling that would make privacy a violated memory..I'm sorry you can't deal with smoking and I'll support your rights to condemn and ban it as a public issue but I can't support banning it in private as tho it were public. In such a situation you have the choice as to whether or not to deal with their PRIVATE choice..
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
23 Dec 09
If you can find other work, better quit that present work and look for a job you think you will be not exposed to smokers. But if you cannot quit that job and you think you will be with them for the next years of your life, I suggest you take vitamins and food supplements everyday. These can help you fight back the harmful toxins brought by second hand smoke. Add to your diet lots of fruits. They contain good amount of anti-oxidants helpful in fighting harmful toxins.
@hoodwinks (157)
• United States
23 Dec 09
have to say well are you going to there homes, them people they are old? have been smoking for four decades maybe five or six. I am going on two years with out smoking I had used chantex it is not for the faint of heart. I had some issues with it such as nightmares, I would sleep 5 hours and be up 30 hours for like three weeks of being on them pills, they did work I am smoke free and I could careless to be around smoking people so I do hear your end also. being in a fog like smoke is nasty and smells like butt! lol. maybe talk to your boss and see if there's a way to walk around it some how, maybe they can smoke outside or in a different room while your there. you could take it to a court to make a law about it.would take a lot of work. but good luck for the mean time