OK- I'll preface this by saying that while there are political parallels to draw here, this is NOT meant to be a political commentary about the government or anything like that.
I just saw something in my work website that prompted a lot of dialog at work. However, I won't post there- and I still want to voive my frustrations about it. I think some others might find this interesting as well.
Apparently our company is instituting a company-wide smoking ban in all locations. This means that for all sites for our corporate offices, our subsidiaries, and other sites, use of all tabacco products (including e-cigs) is not permitted on the premesis. Even if you're in your car, you will not be permitted to smoke. This apparently includes any contractor, vendor, or visitor.
Stupidly enough, our company allows a comment feature on the post, and oh boy some people have definitely decided to throw their two cents in!
Now I'm not a smoker. I will smoke- but it's not a habit or an urge I have (a cigar or two a year, and a cigarette or two if I'm out with a bunch of friends). However, I'm appalled at the non-smoker's responses on how great this decision is and how it's 100% correct. Some people act like people are currently smoking at their desks, and now we'll have a healthy workplace. Smoking is currently kept to desingated areas. Sure, some don't follow that- but for the most part it's contained. I haven't seen any issues with people not being able to avoid second hand smoke. So to me this seems like a PR move that won't do much of anything- other than force people to walk off the company property to satiate their habit.
Now I think the hyperbolic responses on the other side are stupid as well. Ban Soda then! No chips in the vending machines! You're limiting my freedom to be an American! That's just as silly.
But it does concern me that a company is doing more to regulate it's employee's legal actions. Some people have noted that there are employers who actually do drug testing for tobacco products, and they will not hire someone who uses tabacco- and employees can be fired for testing positive as well. While our company is not (currently) doing this- this kind of limitation/ control of a LEGAL habit is what gets me worried. I just think people are too self-absorbed and think "well if it's not me being affected, it's fine".
What do you all think?
I just saw something in my work website that prompted a lot of dialog at work. However, I won't post there- and I still want to voive my frustrations about it. I think some others might find this interesting as well.
Apparently our company is instituting a company-wide smoking ban in all locations. This means that for all sites for our corporate offices, our subsidiaries, and other sites, use of all tabacco products (including e-cigs) is not permitted on the premesis. Even if you're in your car, you will not be permitted to smoke. This apparently includes any contractor, vendor, or visitor.
Stupidly enough, our company allows a comment feature on the post, and oh boy some people have definitely decided to throw their two cents in!
Now I'm not a smoker. I will smoke- but it's not a habit or an urge I have (a cigar or two a year, and a cigarette or two if I'm out with a bunch of friends). However, I'm appalled at the non-smoker's responses on how great this decision is and how it's 100% correct. Some people act like people are currently smoking at their desks, and now we'll have a healthy workplace. Smoking is currently kept to desingated areas. Sure, some don't follow that- but for the most part it's contained. I haven't seen any issues with people not being able to avoid second hand smoke. So to me this seems like a PR move that won't do much of anything- other than force people to walk off the company property to satiate their habit.
Now I think the hyperbolic responses on the other side are stupid as well. Ban Soda then! No chips in the vending machines! You're limiting my freedom to be an American! That's just as silly.
But it does concern me that a company is doing more to regulate it's employee's legal actions. Some people have noted that there are employers who actually do drug testing for tobacco products, and they will not hire someone who uses tabacco- and employees can be fired for testing positive as well. While our company is not (currently) doing this- this kind of limitation/ control of a LEGAL habit is what gets me worried. I just think people are too self-absorbed and think "well if it's not me being affected, it's fine".
What do you all think?
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