"We don't hire smokers"

[CapitalGuy]

A fascinating story about a company that is pushing to its limits (in a gay Canadian first world/white man problem sort of way) the concept of corporate rights vs employee rights. I like the guy for his attitude, not specifically due to his attitude about smokers but due to his attitude about employees who think they have a right to work at his company. Many people will hate him. I think a few of his lines may be inspired by his headquarters' location being Ottawa, home to the most pampered workforce in Canada, also the whiniest workforce in Canada (after teachers, 'natch).

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/0...iring-smokers-leaves-people-asking-whos-next/

 

[simon482]

i should apply for a job then sue him for discrimination.

 

[Mikehorn]

He looks like a douchebag.

 

[fuji]

i should apply for a job then sue him for discrimination.

"Smoker" is not a protected category in the human rights code.

 

[kkelso]

I have not hired any smokers in the last 8-9 years.. actually, I did hire one and let him go before his probation period was over (did not have to give a reason to let him go)

Smokers are a much larger burden on the benefits... and use more sick days. Someone else can hire them!

Similar for me, albeit only 5 years. I have learned my lesson. They eat you alive in smoke breaks, and later in benefit costs.

 

[james t kirk]

I would never knowingly hire a smoker either. Did by accident once because I didn't know the guy smoked.

Smokers are a net loss. They are constantly taking "smoke breaks"

 

[jackson11]

Similar for me, albeit only 5 years. I have learned my lesson. They eat you alive in smoke breaks, and later in benefit costs.

+1 Smokers in my office seem to spend more time outside then they do at their desk. And while everyone else seems to be on time or ahead in work they are always the ones that seem to be complaining about not having enough time in the day to get work done, they are over worked and stressed, the company works them to hard for not enough pay etc etc. If maybe they spent more time working instead of being outside they would not be stressed like the rest of us.

Also I find that because they all tend to be in one "click" like group and they are all "stressed" they all begin to have an attitude about the company doesn't give them this or that etc. The attitude then becomes like a cancer that spreads. I am far from the "ass kissing" type of person at work however I do realize that I am there for work not socializing in the parking lot and things could be much worse (unemployment etc) a lot of smokers I find don't seem to have the same attitude. They are just to "stressed" to see it.

Also as already pointed out smokers seem to be sick much more often than non smokers (putting them "further" behind in their work).

I am an ex smoker I have been there done that and don't plan to go back to the "complaining" and long breaks. Much happier and feel much healthier just coming in and doing what is expected of me and doing my work.

Any smokers that don't fit into my comments I apologize I know that everyone is different however it is a trend I notice in every company I have worked for (when I was a smoker and now non smoker)

 

[nondescriptive]

Similar for me, albeit only 5 years. I have learned my lesson. They eat you alive in smoke breaks, and later in benefit costs.

I totally agree,smokers in the work place feel that they are entitled to extra "breaks' to smoke on top of their legally allotted break time. I haven't done the math, but the employee hours lost to these extra breaks for smoking must add up to a significant amount through one fiscal year.

 

[nobody123]

I have not hired any smokers in the last 8-9 years.. actually, I did hire one and let him go before his probation period was over (did not have to give a reason to let him go)

Smokers are a much larger burden on the benefits... and use more sick days. Someone else can hire them!

Similar for me, albeit only 5 years. I have learned my lesson. They eat you alive in smoke breaks, and later in benefit costs.

I would never knowingly hire a smoker either. Did by accident once because I didn't know the guy smoked.

Smokers are a net loss. They are constantly taking "smoke breaks"

Good stuff! I also refuse to hire smokers, as well as those that are fat or anyone with a limp. Fat smokers with a limp are right out.

 

[Toronto`s Finest]

I think in this very competative employment situation EMPLOYEES need to consider how competative they are ...... and .... appreciate worker productivity & potential DOWNTIME cost are a real factor in a biz being cost/productive & thus being competative in its operations. If an employee comes with an attitude that they are going to benifit the organization in any way they can ...... then they are worthy of consideration.

 

[spraggamuffin]

Smokers can't catch a break these days.

They're used to having lots of them.

 

[arejayell]

It's amazing that anything ever got built in the post WW ll era, with all the smokers that used to be working out there. I guess they are a dying breed.

Coffee drinkers are not far behind in the 'taking breaks' list and they can still do it indoors.

 

[simon482]

i don't understand why during an 8 hourday at the office you get 2 15 min breaks and a 30 min lunch break. that is plenty of time to run out for a smoke and there is no need for extra breaks. i agree with you guys on that. i have always worked outside and it has never been an issue and i have never taken a smoke break. as for the smokers are always more sick, that is bullshit. i have never missed a day, been late or called in sick and i have been working full time since i was 18. i hear my vegan friends calling in sick and crying about a head ache at least once a week. how many people have said "i am no good till i have my morning coffee" or "don't talk to me till i get a coffee".

people who don't show up to work or view work as a social gathering have a shitty work ethic and that has nothing to do with their habits it has to do with how they were raised.

 

[good to go]

As long as you have less than 50 employees you can do as you please with hiring practises. It is once you have more than 50 employees that you have to hire minorities , gays etc..

 

[fuji]

My view is that smoking reflects on character. Someone who smokes plainly lacks either the intelligence or the willpower to quit. If I've got two people applying for the job, all other things being equal, I want to hire the one who is smarter and has a higher degree of self control. For the same reason I would prefer not to hire a morbidly obese person, someone who doesn't bathe properly, or someone who shows up to the interview in raggy clothes. I feel these things, while not directly related to the job tasks I have, demonstrate general character problems that make someone are poorer quality employee.

 

[simon482]

My view is that smoking reflects on character. Someone who smokes plainly lacks either the intelligence or the willpower to quit. If I've got two people applying for the job, all other things being equal, I want to hire the one who is smarter and has a higher degree of self control. For the same reason I would prefer not to hire a morbidly obese person, someone who doesn't bathe properly, or someone who shows up to the interview in raggy clothes. I feel these things, while not directly related to the job tasks I have, demonstrate general character problems that make someone are poorer quality employee.

but smoking is the habit you can see. what if the guy that doesn't smoke goes home and drinks himself into a coma every night or mutilates cats int he alley. would you pass over hiring someone if they are gay ? judging a person because they have a habit is a character flaw as well. some would judge you far more harshly on your habit than they would a smoker. you are cheating on and disrespecting your wife on a daily basis yet you don't smoke. that doesn't make you a better person, you are also displaying character flaws. in fact your character flaw is dishonesty and a severe lack of trust and loyalty. i would hire a smoker over a dishonest disrespectful liar any day of the week.

 

[afterhours]

but smoking is the habit you can see. what if the guy that doesn't smoke goes home and drinks himself into a coma every night or mutilates cats int he alley. would you pass over hiring someone if they are gay ? judging a person because they have a habit is a character flaw as well. some would judge you far more harshly on your habit than they would a smoker. you are cheating on and disrespecting your wife on a daily basis yet you don't smoke. that doesn't make you a better person, you are also displaying character flaws. in fact your character flaw is dishonesty and a severe lack of trust and loyalty. i would hire a smoker over a dishonest disrespectful liar any day of the week.

But how would you know whether the person is a liar? You only know whether he or she smokes.

 

[simon482]

But how would you know whether the person is a liar? You only know whether he or she smokes.

that is my point. judging on the habit you can see is stupid when the habits you can't see are far worse. hell who was the guy here who started a thread about needing to jerk off at work. that is far more offensive than stopping for a smoke.

 

[afterhours]

that is my point. judging on the habit you can see is stupid when the habits you can't see are far worse. hell who was the guy here who started a thread about needing to jerk off at work. that is far more offensive than stopping for a smoke.

you must judge on what you can see because the alternatives are not to judge at all or judge on something you can't see.

But I guess if I were to hire a truck driver I wouldn't give a fuck that he is trying to slowly kill himself in his truck. It's not like I would have to watch him taking 20 breaks a day and smell like shit in my office.

 

[simon482]

you must judge on what you can see because the alternatives are not to judge at all or judge on something you can't see.

But I guess if I were to hire a truck driver I wouldn't give a fuck that he is trying to slowly kill himself in his truck. It's not like I would have to watch him taking 20 breaks a day and smell like shit in my office.

an office situation is different. when a person has 2 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch break they don't need to run outside every 20 mins for a smoke. i agree that is ludicrous. would you hire a guy that told you he takes off to go see an MP every day ?

why judge at all, maybe the smoker is an incredible worker and the non smoker is a hypochondriac that will miss half the year.