Discussions

It's hard to treat patients when your allergies are being triggered.

Fishin Guy said "    Brenda said "    Tango123 said "We own a business and ask during interviews if the applicant smokes if we can't smell it before hand. If they say no then show up stinking like an ashtray we give them one chance. If it happened again, we found a reason to terminate the employment. Before the human rights comments and the take them to the labour board comments, she did that and lost. She showed up late one day and that was enough reason for us. " is it your right during an interview to ask if a person smokes? I know you can't ask about health issues. " You can ask if there is anything that may prevent them from doing regular required duties. We ask this all the time in interviews. The common answer is no and they sign off on it. I have had employees after hiring say they have bad knees, back, etc. that limits their ability. Instant grounds for dismissal for lying on their application as there were things that prevented normal duties being met. "

I call BS on this. So, would you ask someone if they're pregnant? If you haven't I'd suggest you do so...it might be the last time you do. Trust me, I've conducted many interviews, and you can only hire someone based on their qualifications, not their conditions.

PrimeConvoy said "    Fishin Guy said "    Brenda said "    Tango123 said "We own a business and ask during interviews if the applicant smokes if we can't smell it before hand. If they say no then show up stinking like an ashtray we give them one chance. If it happened again, we found a reason to terminate the employment. Before the human rights comments and the take them to the labour board comments, she did that and lost. She showed up late one day and that was enough reason for us. " is it your right during an interview to ask if a person smokes? I know you can't ask about health issues. " You can ask if there is anything that may prevent them from doing regular required duties. We ask this all the time in interviews. The common answer is no and they sign off on it. I have had employees after hiring say they have bad knees, back, etc. that limits their ability. Instant grounds for dismissal for lying on their application as there were things that prevented normal duties being met. " I call BS on this. So, would you ask someone if they're pregnant? If you haven't I'd suggest you do so...it might be the last time you do. Trust me, I've conducted many interviews, and you can only hire someone based on their qualifications, not their conditions. "

you are right.  
 
How about the hospital, that is a scent free facility. Do you see all the staff that are out there smoking? I am sure you have. They are on their breaks on their time. Can you imagine letting all the staff go at the hospital because they smoke?

I'm not going to suggest that someone shouldn't hire a person just because they smoke. There are though, some smokers that smell very strongly of smoke. Their hair smells of smoke, and their clothes smell of smoke, their very aura smells of smoke, and it seems most of them are oblivious to it. Other smokers barely smell of smoke at all.  
 
Just as it may be the right of a smoker to smoke, shouldn't it be every bit as much a right of the non-smoker to not be assaulted by the overpowering smell some smokers are enveloped in?

PrimeConvoy said "    Fishin Guy said "    Brenda said "    Tango123 said "We own a business and ask during interviews if the applicant smokes if we can't smell it before hand. If they say no then show up stinking like an ashtray we give them one chance. If it happened again, we found a reason to terminate the employment. Before the human rights comments and the take them to the labour board comments, she did that and lost. She showed up late one day and that was enough reason for us. " is it your right during an interview to ask if a person smokes? I know you can't ask about health issues. " You can ask if there is anything that may prevent them from doing regular required duties. We ask this all the time in interviews. The common answer is no and they sign off on it. I have had employees after hiring say they have bad knees, back, etc. that limits their ability. Instant grounds for dismissal for lying on their application as there were things that prevented normal duties being met. " I call BS on this. So, would you ask someone if they're pregnant? If you haven't I'd suggest you do so...it might be the last time you do. Trust me, I've conducted many interviews, and you can only hire someone based on their qualifications, not their conditions. "

Well considering I don't have to worry about asking if they are pregnant as they would have one hell of a time giving birth......But If you tell me that there is nothing that can prevent you from doing the duties we ask, such as lifting 50lbs on a regular basis. I hire you, then you turn around and tell me that a few years ago you broke your back and cannot lift anything heavier than 20 lbs, you will be dismissed and I will gladly see you in court then. Courts haven't sided with an employee yet for our company in these instances.

Do you not have any friends or relatives that smoke? Do you think it's fair for them to be fired for smoking?

Fishin Guy said "    PrimeConvoy said "    Fishin Guy said "    Brenda said "    Tango123 said "We own a business and ask during interviews if the applicant smokes if we can't smell it before hand. If they say no then show up stinking like an ashtray we give them one chance. If it happened again, we found a reason to terminate the employment. Before the human rights comments and the take them to the labour board comments, she did that and lost. She showed up late one day and that was enough reason for us. " is it your right during an interview to ask if a person smokes? I know you can't ask about health issues. " You can ask if there is anything that may prevent them from doing regular required duties. We ask this all the time in interviews. The common answer is no and they sign off on it. I have had employees after hiring say they have bad knees, back, etc. that limits their ability. Instant grounds for dismissal for lying on their application as there were things that prevented normal duties being met. " I call BS on this. So, would you ask someone if they're pregnant? If you haven't I'd suggest you do so...it might be the last time you do. Trust me, I've conducted many interviews, and you can only hire someone based on their qualifications, not their conditions. " Well considering I don't have to worry about asking if they are pregnant as they would have one hell of a time giving birth......But If you tell me that there is nothing that can prevent you from doing the duties we ask, such as lifting 50lbs on a regular basis. I hire you, then you turn around and tell me that a few years ago you broke your back and cannot lift anything heavier than 20 lbs, you will be dismissed and I will gladly see you in court then. Courts haven't sided with an employee yet for our company in these instances. "

that certainly is a reason for letting them go.  
 
Smoking is not. Unless you find them smoking in the bathroom, shop, etc.

The Boss is still the Boss,[Owner] for what ever reason it may be it will be a strike against you. How many strikes does it take before dissmissal happens. If it affects my sales/proffit at the end of the day, ask your self what would you do? I'm thinking your a good average or better employee is why he said this. He just didn't aproach you properly about the situation and as to why. Personaly I can not stand the stench of tabbaco smoke on others, especially if they just finnished one. If you value your job, have a sit down with him to try to work it out. Good Luck!

just to clarify.. there are lots of similarities from smoking dependency to alcohol dependencies. Brenda quote" Now really alcohol is a whole different discussion. Nothing like smoking at all. Smoking will not affect your job performance, alcohol of course will." I've worked in this area. There are many functioning alcoholics that maintain their employment. Smoking is harder to quit than alcohol because it is more "socially acceptable" and availability is higher. 24 hrs of the day you can get cigs.

From what I gather through all these posts is that the employee should have all the rights and the person paying the mortgage, hydro, employee cpp, cutting the pay check, takes all the risks, has no rights. Wow. I have not, and will not hire someone who smokes. I can't stand the smell and don't have to.

Tango123 said "From what I gather through all these posts is that the employee should have all the rights and the person paying the mortgage, hydro, employee cpp, cutting the pay check, takes all the risks, has no rights. Wow. I have not, and will not hire someone who smokes. I can't stand the smell and don't have to. "

kinda hope nobody that smokes and applied for a position at your company reads this believe thats admission of discrimination which would cause you some issues in court

Not too worried about it. Been in business for 17 successful years and have not had an issue. Oddly enough, of the three times it's happened in that time, they were all dismissed. Lots of people looking for easy money. Just like a lot, not all, but a lot of the stress leaves etc. It's too bad things aren't done the way they were 20 or 30 years ago. Here's the door. Don't let it hit you in the arse on the way out.

Tango123 said "Not too worried about it. Been in business for 17 successful years and have not had an issue. Oddly enough, of the three times it's happened in that time, they were all dismissed. Lots of people looking for easy money. Just like a lot, not all, but a lot of the stress leaves etc. It's too bad things aren't done the way they were 20 or 30 years ago. Here's the door. Don't let it hit you in the arse on the way out. "

you sound like a great boss to work for! High turnover rate I would imagine.  
 
 
More people leave a job due to management even if they like the job.  
 
no reply needed, I know what you will say.

Well reading up a little further online unless you are a heavy smoker at about 25 a day you could fight it as a disability due to it altering your physical and mental abilities. Smokers would experience withdrawal symptoms such as depressed mood, irritability, anxiety, and difficulty in concentrating, among other things, if they were unable to smoke within a 2-2.5 hour period. If you were terminated for smoking I have never seen an employer put Fired/Laid off with reason-Due to being a smoker on an ROE. Very simple to terminate employee due to company going a new direction. Here is your pay in lieu of.

You are correct. No need to reply, but i will. I've had a few employees who have been with us for over 10 years. I've had employees for a few months. Those are the ones complaining about crap like smoking. Don't really care. The bottom line is me making money, employees making money to feed their families, and the people who want to complain about crap, go to the labour board, can go and work for you.

Tango123 said "You are correct. No need to reply, but i will. I've had a few employees who have been with us for over 10 years. I've had employees for a few months. Those are the ones complaining about crap like smoking. Don't really care. The bottom line is me making money, employees making money to feed their families, and the people who want to complain about crap, go to the labour board, can go and work for you. "

That does not sound very good. But eh, your company. You want to waste time, going through the whole hiring process of advertising, interviewing, training and doing it over and over again, all the power to you. Although, if you did not have to do that, think the the extra money you would have for you and your few staff.  
 
Unfortunately, I don't own my own business, I worked for 23 years at the same place, but now unfortunately am on disability for treatment resistant depression. Give me a whirl, I am almost read to go back to work and I smoke and I will out work anyone you got there!

I wish, smoking is disgusting.

Red flag. I would have to hire someone to replace you the next time you go on disability. I wish you well though.

Tango123 said "Red flag. I would have to hire someone to replace you the next time you go on disability. I wish you well though. "

you don't even know me, or how well I am recovered. Please tell me how you know I will go on disability again? I would like to know, see how much smarter you are than my psychiatrist. You are not a people person are you? It is all down by some book that tells you how to run a business. And during the interview process I would never have told you that anyway and you cannot ask a potential employee about their health.