Personally, I don't smoke, but here's a question for those who do:

If you had a job where all your housing/living expenses are paid
- rent
- furniture
- heat
- water
- electric
- internet
- phone (not cell phone though)
- food (includes "normal" stuff like toilet paper and all that)

This job pays $1000+/month
All you have to pay for is your car, cell phone if you want it, and incidentals like personal toiletries.

Would you quit the job, thus losing your home and pretty much everything in it, if your employer told you you had to quit smoking within a certain period of time, at risk of termination?

We're not talking about a corporation where you can file "wrongful termination" ... Let's assume this was a built in part of your contract when you signed for this private employment, and you have been working there for 3 months without even attempting to honor what you signed (aka to quit smoking).

12/21/2005 1:10:08 PM

There are a lot of reasons not to want to work for a company that would do that regardless of whether or not you smoke.

12/21/2005 1:13:05 PM

it's not a "company" ... it's a private contract ... good example would be someone like a butler; they get their own quarters, paid benefits, etc. but they are employed by individuals who are not subject to the laws governing corporations

No, I don't have a butler. I can't afford the $60k/year they get.

12/21/2005 1:15:31 PM

Enough to make a thread about it

12/21/2005 1:19:44 PM

No, I'm pretty sure I've heard of companies that will fire smokers.

12/21/2005 1:24:38 PM

i dont smoke so its not strong

i wasnt weak enough to start in the first place

12/21/2005 1:31:29 PM

there's a company in lansing, michigan that gave its employees 18 months to stop smoking or they would get fired. the owner of the company is trying to get that to include spouses on their medical plan as well.

my company does not allow anyone to smoke on campus, but it's a pharmaceutical company, so it looks bad when the employees aren't looking out for their own health.

12/21/2005 1:44:09 PM

I quit several years ago. It was pretty strong on me then, but it's one of those things that you must:

A. Make up your mind to do.
B. Take the initiative to start.
C. Follow through to success.
D. Resist the urge to fall back.

12/21/2005 2:33:54 PM

Took my pops 8 tries. Last time he smoked was 1969, and he used to do two packs a day unfiltered...

12/21/2005 2:34:46 PM

Quote :

" A. Make up your mind to do. B. Take the initiative to start. C. Follow through to success. D. Resist the urge to fall back"

E. Give yourself over to god.
F. Realize that it's a disease.
G. You're not an addict, you just need to smoke less.

(Southpark).

[Edited on December 21, 2005 at 2:57 PM. Reason : but yes i would quit if i had a suhweeeet job that required it.]

12/21/2005 2:57:13 PM

The company my dad works for doesn't allow smoking during work hours. But before they enacted the policy, they alotted $300 to each worker for a smoking cessation program.

12/21/2005 2:59:30 PM

i only smoke dat no cigs for me and the is not really addictive

but if i had a house and all of the stuff you listed paid for i would quit the job anyway.

12/21/2005 3:44:45 PM

^ I think you misread that ... the employer is paying for it, not the employee

12/21/2005 3:56:22 PM

that's an unrealistic situation

12/21/2005 4:10:46 PM

actually, it's not - I know someone in this situation who's being told she has to quit smoking. Although, the "rent" that's paid is more like a room w/ private bath in someone's house rather than a whole separate house/apt.

12/21/2005 4:29:59 PM

ah - that changes things.

I would quit, but I don't have addiction issues.

12/21/2005 4:33:18 PM

I definitely would. Talk about incentive

12/21/2005 4:35:16 PM

What amazes me is people who insist on their right to do something recreationally, even to the point of shooting themselves in the foot. Smoking, drinking, or hitting the dank are not required for survival or well-being. If you argue that they are, then it's highly likely that you (a) have your priorities in the wrong place and/or (b) have an addiction issue.

If a potential employer offered me a great job with lots of benefits, conditional upon cessation of a habit such as smoking, you're damn right I'd think about quitting...HARD AND SERIOUSLY.

Anybody who whines that they are being refused a basic right really needs to think about that one a little more realistically.

12/21/2005 4:51:06 PM

Though this job sounds great, lets think about how much she is actually getting paid. You can get a room in a furnished apt for like $600 max including utilities. Then add $100 a week for "normal stuff" so thats $1000 a month in expenses. Then you only get $1000 a month so you are making ~$24,000 a year through this job. So if it's worth it to quit smoking for a job around 25,000-30,000 then do it.

12/21/2005 5:05:29 PM

is she a nanny? if so i totally understand her employer... doesn't want her kids exposed and influenced.

but anyway, since i never smoked, it would be an easy choice.

12/21/2005 5:30:18 PM

Queti: yes, she is

Yeah, I guess it does work out around $30000/year with pay and benefits; considering she hasn't had any higher education or any real non-menial-labor experience, I'd say she's doing good at $30k and would benefit from not smoking 2 packs/day, but apparently it's a big source of contention and the nanny feels she's being denied her "space" ... Shit, two friggin packs? How much childcare is she actually doing if she's going outside for a cig and a phone chat every 30 minutes?


Carry on

12/21/2005 5:44:02 PM

normally, I would think a boss asking an employee not to smoke would be wrong... but if she's a nanny I understand that... when I have kids someday, I would want a nonsmoking babysitter

12/21/2005 5:49:23 PM

that's apparently legal in some state

12/21/2005 8:33:13 PM

Quote :

"There are a lot of reasons not to want to work for a company that would do that regardless of whether or not you smoke."

goddamn fascists

hell yes I'd quit

12/21/2005 8:37:12 PM