Fascist bastard workplace is banning smoking

[EastEnder]

If the UK is a democracy then surely the choice of the majority should be the rule?

Since, according to various published statistics, the majority of people in UK don't smoke, all smoking should be banned everywhere?

I think you may have misunderstood the concept of democracy, at least to the extent it's practiced in the UK...

Majority opinion is largely irrelevant, the only time you have any direct influence on policy is when there's an election. Democracy in the UK is based on parliamentary sovereignty - parliament can make whatever laws it likes, irrelevant of popular opinion. As an individual, your only influence is on who gets elected to parliament.

If decisions were made on the basis of majority opinion, would we have gone to war with Iraq?

Not to mention the fact that you're making an unwarranted assumption - just because the majority don't smoke doesn't automatically imply that they all want it banned everywhere.

 

[In Bloom]

If the UK is a democracy then surely the choice of the majority should be the rule?

Since, according to various published statistics, the majority of people in UK don't smoke, all smoking should be banned everywhere?

The majority of people in the UK don't morris dance, either, should we drive those weirdos with the hankerchiefs underground?

 

[In Bloom]

We're not allowed to smoke on-site.

I have to leave the premises entirely to light up.

It's most inconvenient, I'm forced to use the door just behind me, descend a whole short flight of stairs and step out onto the street.

20 seconds of my life wasted every time I want a fag.

Damn those fascist oppressors!

Depends on the workplace though, doesn't it? I've worked in places where you'd have quite a walk to get off site, to the point where you've wasted half your break.

 

[bi0boy]

The Nazis were actually anti-smoking, so why not get the AFL in to support your cause?

 

[In Bloom]

Speaking of stupid rules on smoking, my current workplace has a smoking room for service users, some of whom have to have a member of staff with them while they're smoking, but we're not allowed to smoke in there, even if we're accompanying somebody who's having a cigarrette. If that's not fucking mental, I don't know what is.

 

[Fedayn]

The majority of people in the UK don't morris dance, either, should we drive those weirdos with the hankerchiefs underground?

Frankly yes, we should.

 

[EastEnder]

The thing that's always got me is how smokers are allowed to skive off, but if I just buggered off away from my desk for 10 or 15 minutes every now and then, I'd likely get bollocked for it. And why should smokers get paid the same when they do less work?

I don't get bollocked for it because I work for a small company where everyone is acutely aware of their responsibilities and the boss doesn't treat us like children. I can come and go as I please, which is never a problem because I always get the job done - even if that means working late, missing lunch, taking work home, etc. Some of my colleagues smoke and some don't, I really couldn't care less either way - as long as we all get the job done and meet project deadlines, that's all that matters.

 

[strung out]

Speaking of stupid rules on smoking, my current workplace has a smoking room for service users, some of whom have to have a member of staff with them while they're smoking, but we're not allowed to smoke in there, even if we're accompanying somebody who's having a cigarrette. If that's not fucking mental, I don't know what is.

doesnt that break any rules in smoking in the workplace if one of you has to be in the room while they smoke?

 

[SpookyFrank]

doesnt that break any rules in smoking in the workplace if one of you has to be in the room while they smoke?

IIRC mental health is one of the few exceptions, my mum is a psychiatric nurse and although the clients she visits should by law not smoke while she's in their home she says there are some clients for whom there's no point even trying to enforce this.

 

[In Bloom]

doesnt that break any rules in smoking in the workplace if one of you has to be in the room while they smoke?

Not so far as I know. I don't mind, anyway, no non-smoker is forced to sit with them, if there's nobody willing to take them, they just have to wait.

Just to clarify, I work in a care home, service users are allowed to smoke because it is their place of residence. Same reason prisoners are allowed to smoke indoors.

 

[pogofish]

Since, according to various published statistics, the majority of people in UK don't smoke, all smoking should be banned everywhere?

When asked to vote on it in Scotland, only @3% of those who bothered to vote chose for that option & only @8% plunked for the restrictions we were eventually lumbered with. Democracy?

 

[pogofish]

The thing that's always got me is how smokers are allowed to skive off, but if I just buggered off away from my desk for 10 or 15 minutes every now and then, I'd likely get bollocked for it. And why should smokers get paid the same when they do less work?

You do realise it has been illegal to deny any employees their appropriate breaks for some time now.

Smoker or not, you are simply a fool if you don't insist on them.

 

[matrix_22]

The thing that's always got me is how smokers are allowed to skive off, but if I just buggered off away from my desk for 10 or 15 minutes every now and then, I'd likely get bollocked for it. And why should smokers get paid the same when they do less work?

Really depends where you work doesn't it - if you work for an organisation that's a bit more relaxed then its fine - people where I work 'bugger off' from their desks all the time (smokers and non-smokers) - no-one cares or asks where they are because they get their work done - that's all that matters really - who cares if anyone takes the odd break - if I was stuck in a job where I was tied to my desk for 8 hours a day and questioned like a child as to where I'd been if I took 10/20 minutes out then I would know it was time for me to look for a new job.

 

[Xanadu]

And with your smoking-shortened-lifespan it's not as if you have time to waste.

The thing that's always got me is how smokers are allowed to skive off, but if I just buggered off away from my desk for 10 or 15 minutes every now and then, I'd likely get bollocked for it. And why should smokers get paid the same when they do less work?

I thought you were meant to be allow little breaks throughout the day. I take short "non-smoking breaks" all the time.

 

[pk]

I still smoke at my desk. If I want.

I actually prefer popping outside, it's nicer to smoke in the fresh air.

And I don't smoke at home, so I'm used to hopping out the back door for a cig.

 

[Giles]

And with your smoking-shortened-lifespan it's not as if you have time to waste.

The thing that's always got me is how smokers are allowed to skive off, but if I just buggered off away from my desk for 10 or 15 minutes every now and then, I'd likely get bollocked for it. And why should smokers get paid the same when they do less work?

I thought it was because they will, in the end, cost the company less in pension payments than the non-smokers? Swings and roundabouts, etc?

Giles..