How close can you smoke to an office entrance?

If they are littering butts on a public pathway, get onto the local litter warden who should be able to put some pressure on the company to get it sorted. Start talking to your HR people, and/or PR people and/or customer service people about the terrible impression this creates for visitors.

I assume you mean the butts on the ground create a terrible impression and not people smoking outside the building?
 
why? People are smoking a cigarette - it's legal and some people enjoy it. Why do people think that the act of smoking a cigarette reflects on the reputation of a company? Let's not forget that the only reason they are smoking outside is to protect the health of non smokers inside. The " I'm not satisfied enough that I no longer have to put up with passive smoking, I dislike smoking itself and want to force my preferences on others" attitude ****es me off.
 
why? People are smoking a cigarette - it's legal and some people enjoy it. Why do people think that the act of smoking a cigarette reflects on the reputation of a company? Let's not forget that the only reason they are smoking outside is to protect the health of non smokers inside. The " I'm not satisfied enough that I no longer have to put up with passive smoking, I dislike smoking itself and want to force my preferences on others" attitude ****es me off.

Just to clarify - the question I responded to was whether seeing smokers outside a building created 'a terrible impression' - I wasn't commenting on smoking itself.

Employers should be discouraging smoking - and not be seen to support it in any way.

Smokers are more prone to certain illnesses and can take longer to recover. They are more likely to take more breaks so the employee is away from desk/job more. It's also a filthy habit, who want's to stink because of having to walk through someone elses smoke, or even interact with someone smelling of smoke?

On smoking itself, you appear to think that smokers rights should continue to take precendence over non-smokers rights, as they have done up to this legislation. What we have now is a fair system where a smoker doesn't enforce his decision on others.
 
Employers should be discouraging smoking - and not be seen to support it in any way.

Letting people smoke outside the office is not supporting smoking itself, it's just allowing employees choose to smoke.


They are more likely to take more breaks so the employee is away from desk/job more. It's also a filthy habit, who want's to stink because of having to walk through someone elses smoke, or even interact with someone smelling of smoke?

As a smoker, the necessity to get my fix means that I ensure that I get 60 minutes work done in 55 minutes. I work harder while at my desk than non smokers because they have no need to make that 5 minute saving. But I have noticed some non smokers on personal phone calls when I go out for a smoke and they are still on it when I get back. :eek:

The assumption that one will stink by simply walking through someone elses smoke is bordering on the paranoid.

On smoking itself, you appear to think that smokers rights should continue to take precendence over non-smokers rights, as they have done up to this legislation.

I don't see how I suggested that. The only smokers rights I alluded to were the right to smoke outside. But I certainly would not support non smokers requesting the right to prevent smokers smoking outside!
 
Come on. You're missing the point. Having a build up of discarded cigarette butts and packets on the ground at the entrance to a company's office looks bad. There's no point in arguing this. It's a fact.

The OP, and everyone else I suspect, is not arguing that people look bad when they're smoking, they're arguing that the mess left behind looks bad. That's why the OP would prefer people don't smoke right outside the entrance.

Surely this is a very reasonable request?
 
I assume you mean the butts on the ground create a terrible impression and not people smoking outside the building?
It's not so much the smoking itself that creates the terrible impression, as the side effects. Littered butts is the most common problem, often within arm's reach of a dedicated bin. Having to 'walk the gauntlet' of smokers to get into the building (check out Holles St hospital) is extremely unpleasant for many non-smokers.
As a smoker, the necessity to get my fix means that I ensure that I get 60 minutes work done in 55 minutes. I work harder while at my desk than non smokers because they have no need to make that 5 minute saving. But I have noticed some non smokers on personal phone calls when I go out for a smoke and they are still on it when I get back. :eek:
Is there any possibility that those personal call-makers have discovered the mystical art of time compression that allows them to get 60 minutes work done in 50 minutes, or is this art solely limited to smokers? I presume you do have solid data that backs up your claim that you are 8% approx more efficient than non-smokers (taking into account the increased rates of sick leave usually found with smokers of course)?
The assumption that one will stink by simply walking through someone elses smoke is bordering on the paranoid.

If you airway is coated with a tar covering, you are unlikely to understand the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers. My wife will smell smoke off my clothes even from the briefest of encounters (e.g. ATM queue, Luas platform, walking past an entrance) with second hand smoke.
 
If you airway is coated with a tar covering, you are unlikely to understand the impact of second-hand smoke on non-smokers. My wife will smell smoke off my clothes even from the briefest of encounters (e.g. ATM queue, Luas platform, walking past an entrance) with second hand smoke.

Very good point. Smokers sense of smell is so poor they assume everyone elses is.

It sickens me to have to walk the gauntlet of smokers getting there fix everytime I have to enter a public building or hospital.
 
At least a non-smoker's decision doesn't have a negative impact on the health of the smoker.
I beg to differ, having to stand outside in the rain/snow/cold to smoke can definitely affect the health of a smoker. Colds & Flu etc.

At least if we did the smoking ban to please everybody, not just the Nazi Anti-Smokers, ASH Ireland etc, there'd be far less objections to it, and people wouldn't be standing out side pubs stinking the clothes of the people who walk past :rolleyes:
 
I beg to differ, having to stand outside in the rain/snow/cold to smoke can definitely affect the health of a smoker. Colds & Flu etc.

I had a feeling you'd come back at me with that ... :p But the simple solution is to give up smoking :) No more standing around in the rain/snow/cold to smoke, and no more being blamed for non-smokers smelling like ashtrays :)
 
I had a feeling you'd come back at me with that ... :p But the simple solution is to give up smoking :) No more standing around in the rain/snow/cold to smoke, and no more being blamed for non-smokers smelling like ashtrays :)


:rolleyes: Come on! That's the equivalent of saying "if you don't like the way the country is being run - get out"
 
personally I do form a slightly negative opinion of a company if I have to run the gauntlet of smokers to enter but I have a much bigger issue if I am getting into the lift and 2 or 3 of these same smokers pile in as well with the fresh reek of stale rothmans/jp blue or whatever on their breath/clothes - that is just disgusting.

Then if the people you're meeting have just been out for a quick smoke/coffee that's just the final nail for me - seriously bad breath which I link to personal hygiene and simple courtesy - for me this leaves a worse impression than a bad presentation / business idea.
 
Then if the people you're meeting have just been out for a quick smoke/coffee that's just the final nail for me - seriously bad breath which I link to personal hygiene and simple courtesy - for me this leaves a worse impression than a bad presentation / business idea.


You could nearly say the same about a man or woman who over do it on the aftershave/perfeum. I find it awful and struggle to breathe.
 
We can't smoke indoors, and now when people are smoking on the streets there're still complaints...geez, some people....

Smoking is a choice, nicotine addiction is a by-product of that choice.

Smoking has no redeeming virtues.

Smoking is anti-social; it has an adverse impact upon those in society who do not smoke, as well as those that do.

I would have no qualms with smokers being treated like pariahs. None.
 
Smoking is a choice, nicotine addiction is a by-product of that choice.

Smoking has no redeeming virtues.

Smoking is anti-social; it has an adverse impact upon those in society who do not smoke, as well as those that do.

I would have no qualms with smokers being treated like pariahs. None.

Yes, smoking is a choice, and choice is a great thing. People like you would remove choices that you personally don't approve of. Bear in mind that this thread is about smoking OUTSIDE and those of you who find it hard to put up with a few seconds of smelly breath in a lift or going through an entrance must have little else to be worrying about.

Smoking does have redeeming virtues - if you are a smoker. It's quite enjoyable. There are people who are anti drink who don't like drinkers. Actually they are probably the only visitors to websites like "drinkaware dot ie" where they can get off on all that rubbish tittle tattle. These are more examples of people who aren't satisfied that THEY don't have a habit, they don't want OTHERS to have one either

Smoking is not anti-social. I would gladly socialise with someone while smoking. If they want me to go outside to smoke to avoid any "possible" passive smoking threats to their health and I do go outside, well then I'm a nice guy who obeys the law. Forgive my bad breath.

As for you having no qualms with smokers being treated like pariahs - how anti social of you.
 
Smoking has no redeeming virtues.
Spoken like a true anti-smoker.
Obviously you've not heard of (or dismiss) the calming qualities that a smoke has.

I would have no qualms with smokers being treated like pariahs. None.
I would have no qualms with you being treated like one either, because as podgerodge said, you're the anti-social one here.
 
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