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Smoking and Employers
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marmitepotato
Posts: 986 Forumite
Just a general question. Why do employers ask if you are or are not a smoker on a job application ? Would a non smoker get preference?
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Obviously you can't smoke indoors, but their whole site may be non-smoking, and depending on the size of the site, means you might be away for quite a while on 'breaks'. Hence they might prefer non-smokers.
AFAIK it's not a protected characteristic so isn't discrimination.Excuse any mis-spelt replies, there's probably a cat sat on the keyboard0 -
Because they can. And it's another way of filling up an application form that will never be read by anyone except applicants own mother...0
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Ide also check to see if the company run dead peasant policies on its employees..........0
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It's something that they CAN discriminate against and like it or not, it's also something that they can use in order to protect their business. Smokers may be more likely to be a little later off breaks (although not all of them are!), there's the issue of smoking breaks, there's also the potential that customers may be put off dealing with smokers. Further to this, there is also a chance they may be more likely to suffer certain illnesses (respiratory for example), which could potentially harm the business.Retired member - fed up with the general tone of the place.0
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A lot of smokers do take the pee and spend more time outside puffing than working. Sadly means those of us who have a fag only at proper breaktimes are judged by this.Public appearances now involve clothing. Sorry, it's part of my bail conditions.0
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The company may also have a Health Insurance policy for the employees that may vary in costs depending on your own habits. I am not here to share views on the benefits/threats of smoking, but it may well be also the fact, that company's boss is a health-freak who just does not want any of the time paid by him, wasted during smoking breaks (been there).0
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Turning this the other way around, pre smoking ban
I remember when a certain large bookmaker would only employ smokers
They were looking to minimise risk from passive smoking related health issues0 -
Throwing sickies and letting the team down, you mean. Why should those who choose not to self harm have to pick up the slack for their smoking colleagues?bluenoseam wrote: »Further to this, there is also a chance they may be more likely to suffer certain illnesses (respiratory for example), which could potentially harm the business.Value-for-money-for-me-puhleeze!
"No man is worth, crawling on the earth"- adapted from Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio
Hope is not a strategy
...A child is for life, not just 18 years....Don't get me started on the NHS, because you won't win...I love chaz-ing!0 -
Don't think I'd ever ask to be honest, official break times was the only time I ever smoked, only once I was caught at a previous employer and got sacked on the spot. In all honesty I think it was office staff that took the pee with going for a quick smoke.
Also I would imagine with the electronic ciggies you could smoke them anywhere and be safe from coming back late from having a fag.0 -
marmitepotato wrote: »Just a general question. Why do employers ask if you are or are not a smoker on a job application ? Would a non smoker get preference?
Yes, non smoker get preference as smoking people get more breaks.0
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