I started a new job a month ago. I was so happy because I finally got decent pay and health insurance. Unfortunately, this was too good to be true. One of my coworkers smokes in the office. I have asthma and am allergic to cigarette smoke. Everytime she lights one up, I start smothering. I told my boss in person about my health condition and all he said he’d do is put up automatic door closers on the doors around her (she smokes in the doorway of the building so she can stay by the phone). Well, about 2 or 3 weeks went by, and he’d still not put anything up. I decided to email him and tell him again. I asked him if he could ban smoking indoors completely. Well, finally he decides to put those automatic door closers on there. But guess what, she props her door open! It’s terrible!
Anyway, have any of you dealt with smokers at work. How do you get someone to stop. The bad thing is, my boss is a smoker too! So he doesn’t care! If they don’t stop, I’m going to have to find another job!
Well, about speaking to her directly. She can be very mean. She was very ugly to me at first, and then someone talked to her for me, and now she’s nice. I don’t know how she’d react if I told her to stop.
The reason she smokes in the doorway is because she’s a dispatcher. If she goes outside completely, she’ll miss a call or something on the radio.
I did talk to my boss. He’s a smoker as well and does not care about my condition. Also, if I cause a big stink about this, everyone is going to dislike me because the majority of people there seem to smoke. The other non-smokers are medics and get to get away. I’m an office person and always have to be there. Eh, it sucks. 🙁
Well most of the time smokers are the majority so the only way you can combat it is to sit down with your boss and have a serious conversation about your medical problem, but before you do, make sure you are serious about it. Dont talk to him if it "bothers" or "annoys" you. Talk to him if your health is at serious risk.
Also, make sure you are creating a paper trail. Keep those emails and make copies. Check out your local laws. You could probably sue the living hell out of these people. There isnt supposed to be smoking in the workplace, its probably against building codes or something, i dont know. It just depends on your area.