Smoking in the workplace dilemma (O/T)

[strings]

Hi all,

This isn't for me, but my other half who has a dilemma at work.

Basically she works for a charity and her boss continually smokes in the office - she stinks of fags every day when she comes home. Not only this, but the boss also allows other smokers to smoke in the office (however he is the only full-timer that smokes). The non-smoking staff have tried shutting doors to try and keep the smell away from their desks, however the boss simply re-opens the doors so he can keep an eye on the staff and he has told them that he doesn't want them talking behind his back - so the doors must stay open.

According to office gossip, every single non-smoking member of staff raised smoking in the office as an issue during their appraisal meetings, however nothing has since changed.

So what can my other half do without risking her position, or being unfairly targeted as the person that tried to stop the boss smoking (something he has been doing for years at work)?

I suggested that she privately approach one of the charity's trustees, however apparently they know and don't seem to be fussed about his brazen flouting of the law.

 

[Bwian]

Send for one of your local council jobsworths-anonymously of course.

 

[sten_super]

Having googled it...

Smokefree England: Enforcement

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

I'm sure the Charity Commission might also want to know about such flagrant law breaking

 

[Tricky Dicky]

He sounds like a conplete knob. Report him to the anonymous helpline suggested. The trustees ought to care, as a charity, I would have thought they would be extra cautious about law-breaking - in extremis, you could always threaten to go to the Argus, that should get them to act, bad publicity for a charity could be disastrous.

 

[strings]

Thanks so far, I should say that we have searched online to see her rights. However, the problem is that she recons that if she does any of the things suggested (i.. call the authorities) she will be targeted by her boss and her career progression halted.

She knows what to do, however she fears it could be detrimental to her future career. Can any NSC'ers giver advice on this aspect of things?

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Thanks so far, I should say that we have searched online to see her rights. However, the problem is that she recons that if she does any of the things suggested (i.. call the authorities) she will be targeted by her boss and her career progression halted.

She knows what to do, however she fears it could be detrimental to her future career. Can any NSC'ers giver advice on this aspect of things?

Just do it anonymously. Unless there is only a few people in the office then its very hard to prove who it was that reported them. It might not stop it completely but a random visit by the local authority might make them think again.

 

[cjd]

As this particular workplace must "stink" of smoke etc as your wife returns home each day in this state........did she not notice it at her interview ?

 

[strings]

As this particular workplace must "stink" of smoke etc as your wife returns home each day in this state........did she not notice it at her interview ?

Yeah she did, she said that it would be worth it because the job is so amazing for her personal development. However, after 6 months she seems to have somewhat changed her mind.

Thanks for all the feedback I'll pass it on.

 

[BensGrandad]

Could you not make an anymous call without telling her then she would in all honesty be able to say that it wasnt her that notifiedf the authorities with a clear conscience.

 

[clapham_gull]

Thanks so far, I should say that we have searched online to see her rights. However, the problem is that she recons that if she does any of the things suggested (i.. call the authorities) she will be targeted by her boss and her career progression halted.

She knows what to do, however she fears it could be detrimental to her future career. Can any NSC'ers giver advice on this aspect of things?

Well I understand they are all sorts of whistle blowing rules these days as well.

 

[csider]

turn supergrass, f*** smokers!

 

[sydney]

i would probably not drink any water for 24 hours , when i needed a poo-poo i would deposit the first few rabbitesque droppings into a cup,take them to work and put them in his ash tray which he presumably keeps on his desk,when the question arose"from whence did these turds appear....?" the reply should be "i wouldn't have a clue,all i can smell is fagbutts"

i fuckin hate smoking , i project manage for a building firm and am continually having to tell MONGS not to smoke in peoples houses,the other problem is the language some idiots use with-in earshot of lady and children of the house.....unbeleivable some of it....!!!

 

[drew]

The fact is that the guy is to all intents and purposes an office bully. He is breaking the law and unless someone takes a stand he will get away with it. An anonymous call would start the ball rolling or perhaps anonymous letter to the trustees of the charity. Alternatively, a collective letter to the trustees from all the non-smokers although, take it from me, it is difficult to make a stand against bosses once you put your name to something. The anonymous approach would be the best.

 

[strings]

This issue has now been resolved.

Thanks for all your help - especially those who PM'ed me to offer to anonymously report the company - it is very much apprieciated, especially because I no longer have a girlfriend that comes home stinking of fags and moaning.

Well, she still moans, but you can't win them all...

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

You've gotta give a little bit more info!! Are they no longer smoking in the office??

 

[bhaexpress]

Thing is though, is it supposed to be a Smoke Free Office ? If not there's not much you can do apart from vote with your feet.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I worked for about 3 years in a small office with people coming in smoking. I shudder to think what damage that did/may have done, I wish we had had the law then.

 

[strings]

Some of the staff did a little research and found out that they were breaking the law by not reporting the issue - it is funny how the people that were unwilling to report the problem changed their opinion once they found out they were actually breaking the law themselves by not reporting the issue.

Following this revelation, it was resolved by the staff threatening to walk out, report the issue and not return until their boss complied with the law. he was halfway through a fag when he was told apparently, he calmly finished the fag, apologised, and hasn't smoked since.

 

[bhaexpress]

Some of the staff did a little research and found out that they were breaking the law by not reporting the issue - it is funny how the people that were unwilling to report the problem changed their opinion once they found out they were actually breaking the law themselves by not reporting the issue.

Following this revelation, it was resolved by the staff threatening to walk out, report the issue and not return until their boss complied with the law. he was halfway through a fag when he was told apparently, he calmly finished the fag, apologised, and hasn't smoked since.

What a shame the selfish git didn't do that a lot sooner.