Refused a job because I smoke....

Loopy_Girl

PasturesNew wrote: »

Not sure about that, I realise that I use my smoking as a prop against my anxiety because of my aspergers. It helps me slow my breathing and bring down my panics when I've hit a brick wall and everything's just gone Pete Tong. It helps me to focus my mind and get straight again. While in the workplace this isn't an issue, but outside of the workplace, interacting with people/normal daily life, it's certainly something that's helped. And once it's got you in its grip you do smoke more. But I now realise why I smoke and what I use it for.

Without smoking I'd become irrational and angsty.

Yes but your 'disability' (for want of a better word) is your aspergers. You use the smoking as a crutch to help you cope with this condition.

The OP was saying that smokers should be classed as disabled/handicapped (jeez - who still uses that word nowadays?) merely BECAUSE they are smokers. Which is just bloody ridiculous - almost like you come out the womb with a fag in your hand and can't do nothing about it.
You didn't ask to have aspergers ('disability') but you did make the choice to start, and continue, smoking (lifestyle choice).

In my eyes there is a difference

And as a smoker, I agree. You do smell. No matter what precautions you take such as checking for wind direction (?!), it still clings to your clothes, hair and skin. I wash my hair (admittedly is v long but I have to wear it tied back for work - stops the nits!!!) and as I am standing in the shower I can smell the smoke on me. I smell it on my uniform and I pull over and stand outside my car and smoke and I still smell it.

tomsolomon

First of big gratz to all who posted that have managed to kick the habit...................:T
Secondly, I was unaware just how down right bigoted some people can be about others habits.
Thirdly a handy cap is something that holds you back or gives you a disadvantage. Not a disability.
A little background.......
I have been smoking for the best part of thirty years, long before warning's on packets. And a little fact you may or may not know is, that nicotine is more addictive than Heroin...
I certainly didn't know that when I was 9 years old.....
As for being disabled...
I had an industrial accident ten years ago. And have been on DLA until recently. I have however, been at college for the last three years, because I am now unable to lay as many bricks as I used to. (I have qualifications for that also)

This company obviously saw something on my CV that they liked, due to the fact that they were keen to speak to me, and have tried to contact me several times over the last few days. It's not very nice to hear, we were going to give you the job but we can't because you smoke.....
It's their loss at the end of the day.

jancee_2

Might a little less hysteria on both sides be helpful?

At my workplace there's an eminently sensible policy. If you want a smoke break, you clock out. It comes out of your own time. Non-smokers can similarly clock off for a break should they so wish. This is a Sensible. Policy. I've heard legend of workplaces where smokers get to nick off for ten minutes while everyone else is at their desk or work station playing solitaire without losing any time but I've yet to see any evidence of it. Myth.

Seems to me as though for anti-smokers the fact that people aren't allowed to smoke around them isn't enough. No. They want it banned. People indulging in a perfectly legitimate activity, paying squillions into the NHS, exiled into the freezing cold exterior but that's not enough for you. And according to you they die earlier, which means more in the pension pot to go around. Without wishing to labour the point with statistics that prove otherwise, do please accept that you have been brainwashed on false science to abhor the habit. You won. The Nanny State won. Can't you be at least a little gracious? Or are your minds so closed?

CFC

It's legal to discriminate on these grounds, but that doesn't make it right to do so. Smoking is not illegal; nor immoral; nor connected with laziness or criminal behaviour. There's some ugliness in this thread.

pnq06

This came back to me earlier...
The other day I had a surveyor and builder come round to my house (nothing "funny" happened!) both of whom stank of smoke, they were here no longer than 20 mins yet the smell lingered for hours afterwards- Maybe in some professions these days it is unacceptable and unprofessional. I certainly wouldn't be inviting a salesman in to sign a deal if he stank of smoke- The smell is repulsive to a non-smoker or ex-smoker like me

My father in law also runs his own business and recently had an employee leave on health grounds (he has throat cancer) and although he was a good worker my FIL had to stop him answering calls and going to peoples houses as he would get into a coughing fit i.e the dreaded smokers cough!!! Doesn't sound to good does it?!?!?!

Although I do agree that smokers "can't win", I often walk past shops where workers are standing out the front smoking and think that it looks unprofessional but then again where do they do it if they can't do it outside their workplace during break time...

And now that I've babbled a load of tired carp, I'm off to bed... Night all

tealady

Hi Perhaps the employer needed an excuse to pick between 2 or more suitable candidates. They could have just stuck a pin in the application forms but what do they say to the "losing" candidate? IMO I think they were just looking for an excuse.
Also has anyone thought that someone may work for the company who is asthmatic and allergic to smoke. That person has rights as well.
As an ex smoker I have no problems with my collegues clocking out for their smoke breaks. I don't play cards or use make up, but the smokers can do that as well as the non, so that argument doesn't work.

mymatebob

tomsolomon wrote: »

First of big gratz to all who posted that have managed to kick the habit...................:T
Secondly, I was unaware just how down right bigoted some people can be about others habits.
Thirdly a handy cap is something that holds you back or gives you a disadvantage. Not a disability.
A little background.......
I have been smoking for the best part of thirty years, long before warning's on packets. And a little fact you may or may not know is, that nicotine is more addictive than Heroin...
I certainly didn't know that when I was 9 years old.....
As for being disabled...
I had an industrial accident ten years ago. And have been on DLA until recently. I have however, been at college for the last three years, because I am now unable to lay as many bricks as I used to. (I have qualifications for that also)

This company obviously saw something on my CV that they liked, due to the fact that they were keen to speak to me, and have tried to contact me several times over the last few days. It's not very nice to hear, we were going to give you the job but we can't because you smoke.....
It's their loss at the end of the day.

A handicap is something that can be used to help create a level playing field for participants in a particular area.

A handy cap is something useful used to cover another thing.

What have you done to reduce or kick you addiction?
It is possible that you may come up against this sort of legal discrimination more often so it would be in your own best interest to stop smoking.

SandC

I suppose it is an employer's right to have a policy of not employing smokers. There is nothing they can do if someone takes up the habit while employed though - obviously they would only be smoking in their own time.

Those complaining about the people who take smoking breaks - you should be complaining to the bosses and have any extra breaks stopped. If the employers allow it then of course the smokers are going to nip out for a break.

My company uses discretion. My boss is quite happy for me to have a ciggie break in the morning and afternoon if I want to (I stopped this though and now have one at lunchtime maybe twice a week). Other managers don't allow it. He said that as I pretty much work through lunch, am at my desk around 20-25 mins before start time and don't wander into other offices to have a chit chat that he has no objections to it. He knows darn well I wouldn't run off outside when there is work to be done quickly.

As for the smelling aspect, at my last job I didn't have smoking breaks at all, bar one at lunch when I would go off site. When I went for my first night out with them many expressed surprise that I smoked. Yet I'd been coming back from lunchbreak, having smoked in the car, all year long. Some people seem to have the smell linger on them, others don't. I am conscious of it, but I can't be one of those persons who comes in reeking if others are surprised when they see me with a ciggie on.

As for time off, illness etc. I last had a day off sick in July 2003.

mgn83uk

Firstly, as an epileptic wheelchair user (and I smoke!) I find the suggestion that smoking be considered a disability to be an insult. I chose to smoke, I certainly don't chose to be disabled!

Aside from that, I reject the suggestion that smokers always stink. I don't wear the same tshirt/shirt/etc from one day to another, wash by means of a shower thoroughly normally twice a day and practice good dental care. I've never had anyone who doesn't smoke inform me that I stink, aside from immediately after actually smoking a cigarette - which is somewhat unavoidable. I don't smoke inside either (tenancy does not permit this anyway, so it's something of a mute point).

Neither my eyes, nails or teath are stained or coloured yellow, and I do not have excessive dried skin on my face, a smoker's cough, or any of the other typical indications of smoking. The only problem I experience is small pieces of tobacco collecting at the bottom of my pocket, which is hardly a permanent problem.

For those who find their clothes still smell of smoke after washing them - buy a new washing machine! In this day and age such a device should be able to cope with any residual cigarette odour - smoking is hardly a new thing afterall.

In short, I take every precaution to avoid the negative cosmetic effects of smoking, and feel that the stereotype is unfair.

--

As far as cigarette breaks are concerned, I have never had a paid cigarette break in my life, and have even clocked out for these whilst working for employers who would have happily paid me for these, as I do not consider it fair to those who do not smoke - in essence, it's an additional bonus or perk not available to them.

Also, 5 - 10 breaks per working day? Seriously? In the average 9 or 10 hour shift I worked for my last employer, I was lucky if 2 were granted, thus giving me 3 opportunities to smoke during the shift (2 cigarette breaks and my lunch break).

Finally, less productive? Oh please, i'm sure that's why I scored "Excellent" for Performance on my last personell review!

Hectors_House

maman wrote: »

I'm amazed that there are workplaces where smokers are given more breaks than other workers. I always thought that if you happened to be a smoker you did it in your lunch break or any other break that you were entitled to like everyone else. Where do they get special xtra smoking breaks?

The section I work in was investigated because of others complaining that we spent more time in the smoke shelter then at our desks.

I don't smoke and it was a regular occurance for the couple of non-smokers in the office to find the place deserted as all the smokers traipsed outside for a fag.

In the end the management had to set strict break times which they promptly broke themselves as they were smokers themselves, hence higher management got involved.

I work with youngsters who smoke and then sit there complaining they don't have any money.

I'll never understand someone wanting to literally set light to a fiver every day.

My mother is a smoker and has suffered ill health for a number of years but blames it on everything but the smoking. When both my uncle and auntie died from smoking-related illness she denied what the specialists had told her. She used to regularly trot out the line about it being more difficult to give up cigarettes then to give up an heroin addiction....until she watched Ben: Diary of an Heroin Addict the other night and realised she was talking a load of tosh.

I wish every smoker who wants to give up the best of luck. It can be done but you have to want to do it.