subject: Will Workplace Smoking Become A Thing Of The Past [print this page] In the job market of today, things are getting a little more stricter all of the time. You have to have skills to qualify you in many cases. Many places, even those you might not expect, are requiring a high school diploma before you can even fill out an application. Employers are paying more and more attention to things concerning the health of their potential employees. Even though it is against the law for employers to discriminate, they do usually have the final say as to whether someone gets a job or not if they feel they are not suitable for the position. Something that could very easily become a factor in the future, if it is not already in some cases is smoking.
It is just a simple fact that someone that smokes tobacco is going to more than likely have more health issues than someone that does not smoke. Of course, this is not always the case, because many people that do not smoke can still have a multitude of health issues that are not related to smoking. However, when someone smokes, they are going to be more inclined to get colds, flu, respiratory problems, and even diseases. If your company furnishes your health insurance fully or in part, it is going to cost them more if you smoke. The chances of you becoming sick and missing more work days is very possible.
Smoking has also got a reputation for interfering in the performance and productivity of workers sometimes as well. If an employee is taking extra smoke breaks, they are not working. Most jobs provide regular lunch and breaks throughout the day, but when workers take more than they should it can reduce the productivity and the efficiency of a company. There are no employers that are going to appreciate this.
The way the law stands as of now, it would probably be illegal in most instances to deny someone employment because they smoke. That does not mean that it might not be alright to not hire someone because of it in the future. This is something that really only time will tell. One that is is for certain right now however, is that if your employer catches you smoking at work when you are not supposed to be and you are warned about it the appropriate number of times according to their employee policy, you very well could be fired for it. So, if you still smoke cigarettes or tobacco of any kind, be sure to keep it in its proper place while you are at work or you might end up without a place to work.
