What are my smoking rights?
I have worked in a smoke-free building for over 11 years. No problem. When I smoke, I usually do so during my lunch, which is away from the building. In the last couple of years, we've aquired more "smokers" at the office. For a while, we would go out as a group on our 15 min breaks and smoke. This wasn't taken well. We were stopped from smoking in "groups". So I sign out for break, walk outside to my 95 degree or hotter van, and smoke in the heat with my door open for air.
NOW my problem. I was told today that I should leave my cigarettes in the van because when I walk down the hallway with my "stash", I am 'announcing' that I am going out to smoke. They want me to be more 'subtle' - also, I should go behind the side of the lot -and I quote- "hide in the trees" so no one can see me from the back office windows. What is up with that??? Am I just screwed when it come to this or are there really rights that I have. Leaving this job is not even a consideration
Answer:
If you're in the US, they can fire you for being a smoker - whether or not you smoke on company time or property.
It sounds like they're heading in the direction of banning smoking for all employees - so you might wnat to look at alternatives.
As an FYI - what gets on the boss's nerves is that smokers do go out and take those breaks, when many non-smokers do not. If there's a group, the break is usually longer.
look in your white pages under us govenment and find your local Labor Board tele #...call them and ask.
or-
contact your local legal aid society
or-
do you belong to a union?...if so call them.
you do have rights (i am not a smoker)...but you do have rights.
good luck
A lot of states now have laws about not being able to smoke x feet from the doors to buildings - does yours?
Why bring your smokes into the office if you can't smoke there?
Why is it smokers get more breaks than non-smokers?
Yes you do still have rights. The ninth amendment. However, they also have this right as well.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
http://www.lneilsmith.org/niccers.html...
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