Smoking in the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Smoking in the Workplace - Essay Example Although the rationale behind non-smoking was almost always health reasons, these non-smokers were unjustly exposed to smoking through their addictive peers or customers. The effects of second-hand smoking are also adverse. However, when these non-smokers were forced to work in smoking conditions, they really had no choice but to conform. Like any other workplace, where health and safety are the responsibility of an employer, restaurants and bars also have an obligation to provide a healthy and safe working environment for all their employees. Taking an example of a construction worker, the employee is aware of the risks involved in working for a construction company. However, it is the responsibility of the construction company to provide safe working conditions, so that these risks can be minimized; and sufficient protection against accidents, so that the resulting injuries can be avoided. Similarly, for a restaurant/bar employee, the risks of working in such an environment will be known, but the protection against those risks is the responsibility of the employer. Here, the restaurant owner will face a dilemma in deciding between satisfying its customers by allowing them to smoke and providing his employees with a safe working environment. The employer should safeguard the interest of his employees, although some smokers will be forced to boycott the restaurant. However, in the long run, people will get used to it and will start visiting the restaurant again for its quality of service and food (Frumkin, 2003). By banning smoking, the employer will not have to worry about the health and safety requirements related to second-hand smoking. Second-hand smoking may also affect the productivity of employees. For smokers, smoking provides a sense of comfort and delight. However, for non-smokers, it can be a source of constant irritation. This, in turn, may affect