Nancy

I’m currently training as a media graphic artist and in order to qualify as one I must complete 3 years of training at either my school (they have a special department for trainees) or at a company. Last month I signed a contract with a company who wanted to hire me and I was thrilled as it means lots of advantages for me - such as a much higher income and the proper training I need in order to get a good grade at my final exam in December.
The joy over this good news stopped abruptly at my first day when I found out that they’re allowed to smoke indoors here. It only took one hour of inhaling the smoke of the two smokers in my particular department, Carl and Birgit, before I got a migraine attack. I spent the rest of that day trying to concentrate about work and figure out how I should approach them on the suggestion of a smoke-free environment.
I screw up my courage and asked Birgit about their smoke policy at work the next day and explained to her that I am a migraine sufferer and that I had to ask them to stop smoking in our department as it was giving me headaches. I dreaded her reaction but she just explained to me calmly and friendly that I should talk to Erik - the shop steward representative of this place, and he would take care of it.
And so I did, immediately. He told me that they had been fighting over the very same issue in the journalist department as the smokers refused to go outside and smoke. It seems that some people, including himself, dislike working side by side with smokers, but no one has seemed to be brave enough to do something about it - not even the fucking managing director! He asked me to try and talk to Carl and Birgit about it first as there was no need to go to the big boss about this if we could sort it out among ourselves. I agreed and went back to my desk. Carl then approached me and said that Birgit had told him about my problem. He then assured me that he was more than willing to pay regards to it and that he’d go outside and smoke from now on.

I then returned to work, all happy.

For about 5 minutes - then I saw Birgit light up another smoke.. didn’t she hear a single word of what I just told her?!

I’ve worked here since July the 10th and so far I’ve had migraine attacks on the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 18th and 21st.

Helle, the third and last smoker in this department, just came back from her vacation today and an hour ago I asked her kindly to step outside and smoke and explained her all about my migraine problem. She then laughed and declared that she refused to go out during winter! I then suggested that she could go out in the big printer room and smoke (which some smokers do) but she refused, making excuses such as ”If I had to do that then I wouldn’t get anything done!”. Well how the hell am I suppose to get any work done with a nasty migraine?!
Basically she agreed to show consideration ”within reasonable limits”. But since she refuses to go outside and smoke when the windows are open in here, and during winter and go to the the big printer room, I don’t see how she can possibly pay me regards.
I'm beyond angry at the moment. I mean, the woman actually laughed at me! What the hell is wrong with her!?

I’ve just spent some time crying in the bathroom over this because I am so fucking frustrated. Not very helpful, I know, but I just had to relieve my feelings.

This is quite a big problem since:

1) Total ban on smoking in public (work) places won’t be forced through in Denmark until April 1st 2007, so basically nobody can force them to stop smoking... can they?

2) I’ll go have another chat with Erik about this but if he’s unable to force a new smoke policy through, then I only have two choices:

a: put up with this shit and my migraine attacks or

b: quit the job

The latter could be a problem for me because I need to complete my training. And if the school won’t accept this as a valid reason for quitting my trainee job, I won’t be let back in the school’s trainee department and then I won’t be able to complete my education!

I can’t believe that this is going to be a problem just because two fucking smokers refuse to move their asses outside and smoke!



I could use some words of comfort you guys and a ”good luck”. Because when I’ll be dragging Erik and the whole board into this (I say ”when” and not ”if” because I refuse to put up with this!!) this is most likely going to turn into a nasty mess.

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

shesus

Nancy, that is a tough situation. I am a smoker, but I'm not an inconsiderate one. I always ask people around me if they mind before I light up and if it becomes an issue I move or put it out. I think that people who don't respect others are jerks.

That being said...I wouldn't quit the job if you like it unless there is another one you can move to. You know what you could do though, wear a face mask to work like the drs have. It would serve as a filter and make a bigger statement than obviously your words have. No one should have to suffer migraines and especially at the expense of someone else. Good luck and hope you are migraine-free soon.

__________________
Whatever did happen to your soul?
I heard you sold it

Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

little_tippler

I think that's really unlucky and it's not right. I have never smoked and having been around heavy smokers all my life, I'll tell you that I have put up with it, but I hate it. I have friends and family who smoke - but I still don't like it.

Why the hell should others have to inhale smokers' cigarette smoke? Why should others have to be passive smokers? I think smoking is a nasty habit, because it's bad for the smokers' health as well as for those who are sitting near the smokers, and I don't see why people should be allowed to impose this on others. If it didn't affect other people negatively, fine, smoke yourself to death see if I care. But that's not the case.

And I'm sorry but suggesting that Nancy should wear a face-mask is preposterous! For goodness' sake, why does she have to suffer because someone else has a nasty habit and is inconsiderate? Nancy, I'm not sure what your office's policy is but I'm betting somewhere in their "rules" will be something about co-workers not being permitted to harm others knowingly, or about there having to be some sort of peace keeping between workers. I think that if you quit your job it would be almost like you were harrassed out of it.

I'm not saying that your boss will do anything about it, because the real world usually sucks that way, but he really should. Also if you work up a fuss of course your co-workers may have it in for you. I have no solutions to offer but I think it's very unfair for you and I'll be glad when people are no longer allowed to blow their smoke in your face in a public place.

Sorry to get worked up but I think this is a position that Nancy shouldn't have to be in.

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

Redlemon

Sounds like you already have the "management support" in this case, and that since Birgit is being a little bitch about this, it's time to escalate to the "big boss". I think you can do it.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

JustJess

It's not unreasonable to ask people to consider each other. If I were burning incense, or spraying perfume, or farting copiously, why would I expect anyone else to be okay with that in their workspace? Same thing.

__________________
My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

Jinn

If there's one thing I've learned in the last year is that my HEALTH is far more important than my job, school, or really anything else. If I can't be healthly, I don't enjoy any of them. Furthermore, I might lose my job in 5 years, I might be out of school in 1 year, but my health will always be with me.

That said, your health should take precedence here. This obviously isn't something you can handle directly, and although your coworkers will resent you, this is something for management to do. They'll be pissed as hell that you "tattled" on them, but a manager's JOB is to make sure that his or her underlings are being as productive and happy as they can reasonably be. If your manager can't suck it up and do his fucking job, then he needs a new fucking job. I don't know if you have it in Denmark, but in the US we have a group called OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration - which works to ensure that workplaces are healthy and safe. They'd love to hear about a manager letting workers suffer migraines daily becuase of an unsafe workplace. Look to see if there's anything there that is similar. And use it to pressure your boss. Bring it up to him again, and tell him the things you told us -- that you can't even concentrate with the migraines, that you need your training.. etc.

And I'd do a little research into your program - ask them if health would be a valid reason for not completing your training. If all else fails, you'll at least have a back-out plan for these inconsiderate bastards.

I'd never even heard of a place that allowed smoking indoors -- that's shocking. If it were me, I'd start lacing their cigarettes with some illicit drug and then encourage random drug testing.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Redlemon

Also,
this says that your coworker is going to have to get ready for the smoking ban soon. There's no reason why your boss can't enforce the ban earlier, right? Stick to your guns, babe.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

pornclerk

You should move to Ontario where smoking is banned everywhere. So nice!

__________________
Who wants a twig when you can have the whole tree?

liquidlight

I was just going to ask. . . do you think that turnabout would be fairplay? My Mom used to have this little saying taped to her computer, went something like this:

"I appreciate that you have a vice, and that the smoke is the byproduct of your vice but I don't appreciate you sharing it with me. I too have a vice, I enjoy the occasional Pepsi. The byproduct of my vice is pee. Would you enjoy it if I peed all over you, your hair, your clothes, and your desk? Didn't think so, so please keep you cigarette and your smoke away from me."

Me? I'd just be a little shit and the cigarettes would start disappearing, if she's firing up that often she'd probably just think that she smoked them all. That or I'd find something equally atrocious that I could "share" right back at her.

I've got nothing against smokers, but if you ask me this isn't really about smoking, it's about the fact that they're too damned rude to have any consideration of others. What the hell are these people planning on doing once the government ban goes into effect? And given the pending ban I'd also say that you've got a lot of leverage to have Erik or the big boss start enforcing a more strict policy in order to facilitate compliance.

__________________
Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

Jinn

My dad had a black shirt that said "I dont mind if you smoke if you don't mind if I shit in your shoe" in bright white letters.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

ratbastid

You pull an Artie Ziff, and put out their cigarettes with a squirt bottle.

"Your lungs will thank me later! Squirt, squirt, squirt!"

Impetuous1

Are you able to move to a different area of the office in the meantime? One that is less smoky? Maybe all the smokers can move to one side of the office?

Ample

If you quit, how likely would it be that you would run into the same problem at another organization? If that seems to be the norm, personally I would tough it out. If not, I would quit. Do you really want to work in an environment that has shitty management and that you have to put up with headaches? Isn’t part of being a media graphic artist, creativity? I have a hard enough time thinking straight with a migraine, how are you supposed to do your job?

__________________

Her juju beads are so nice
She kissed my third cousin twice
Im the king of pomona

level five

i'd eat lot's of beans. broccoli and the like and then enjoy myself! or start spraying perfume all over myself. better yet, get a small fan and hit it with air freshener.

genuinegirly

You don't have the option of taking off on medical?

Migranes = no work done = this is an issue that your Human Resources department should be addressing.

if your boss knows that a genuine health issue is going on, and they do nothing about it... this is so very illegal in California. I thought Denmark was beyond this, too.

Taking off and crying in the restrooms definitely helps in the short-term, but it won't fix the situation. Take the complaint to the proper authorities within your workplace, include any and all documentation of your personal link between cigarette smoke and migranes. ie- doctor's reports, specific days where your productivity was hampered including a difinitive count of time lost.

In the meantime, continue to explain to the smokers that your problems with cigarette smoke are not imagined, that this is a medical condition, and that you would have nothing against them smoking if this weren't the case. Ask them kindly to remember the health of those around them.

you don't deserve this kind of crap. Good luck with these monsters.

__________________
"Sometimes I have to remember that things are brought to me for a reason, either for my own lessons or for the benefit of others." Cynthetiq

"violence is no more or less real than non-violence." roachboy

flstf

It is a shame that they didn't tell you ahead of time that this was a smoking environment so that you could have made an informed decision. Changing a long standing company policy must be difficult for a new comer especially if you are the only one complaining.

Seer666

Well, as a smoker, I wish I could just light up in the office. Course, being the antichrists we are now adays, that isn't going to happen. I have to say, that some of the non smokers out there chap my ass. We had one at my last command who came out to the smokeing area and then started bitching about people smoking around her. WTF? In your case, I can understand your view. If I was one of them, I would take it outside no prob, unless it was cold as hell or raining like mad. I would still try to move it away under a window or something. I have no problem trying to accomodate others within reason. Just don't be that person that starts trying to push the 50 foot from the door bullshit.

__________________
Bad spellers of the world untie!!!

I am the one you warned me of

I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant.

Charlatan

Don't quit Nancy... do as Redlemon suggests and take the issue to upper management.

In the meantime, check into a couple of things:

1) wear a mask of some sort - it sucks but so does lung cancer.
2) see if they can't move the smoker's desks to another room in the building (ie a smoking area)
3) see if they can't move you to a smoke free area
4) Get some large fans installed... have them blow the smoke back at the smokers...

__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

pig

well nancy,

that really sucks donkey balls. first day on the job, and you're already in that kind of position. you can't just sit there with massive migraines all day, so the situation will have be resolved. hopefully, it won't get uglier after resolution.

in the worst case scenario, i would think the school would have to accept this as a valid reason to alter your training program...any chance you could get signed up with a different company? you've been there for such a short time that if you could switch, i would think it wouldn't have any significant effect on your program.

hope it works out for the best...didn't you have some problems with a company and the training program over there last year? bet you can't wait to graduate out of this thing.

__________________
You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

Nancy

Haha don't be sorry.. afterall I think we're all on the same side on this issue

I'm certainly not going to wear a face-mask. The idea is funny and I'd certainly get my point across that way but it would be too dramatic a way to go about it. No, I shouldn't have to resort to such drastic measures in order to make them stop smoking.

It really would seem like I had been harrassed out of this job if I quit which is exactly why I'm not going to. I refuse to let them win.

I can't wait for the smoke ban to go into effect in Denmark - Then I won't have to deal with this ever again in the future.



what a creative mind you have, JinnKai!

You're absolutely right about health being the most important thing. That's why I won't hesitate to drag the boss, the board nor the union into this if I have to.

We don't have a OSHA-like group in Denmark but we do have a safety representative instead; a person who co-operates with the manager in ensuring a healthy and safe working environment. I talked to Erik about Helle's reaction yesterday and he was all astonishment. He said that if he wasn't able to fix this then he'd ask Anne Mette, the safety representative, to take over. He promised me that no matter what we'd figure this out together. I felt so much better after that conversation, knowing that at least one person in this place supported and understood me.

About 15 minutes later I saw that he was talking to Helle in the big printer room. I had a feeling that he was addressing the problem so I returned to my department and let them talk it through.

A few moments later I was talking to Jørgen (another guy from my department) when Helle suddenly addressed me in a more civilized manner than earlier. She asked me why I hadn't mentioned my migraine problem during the job interview. I simply replied "It didn't come up" and then went on talking to Jørgen, paying her no more attention - partly because I didn't want to expose Jørgen to what could turn out to be a nasty conversation but mostly because I simply didn't want to talk to her anymore. After her rude rejection ealier I realized that if we were to find a sensible solution to this then it wouldn't be achieved by me solely communicating with her.

I have no idea what Erik said to her yesterday but it worked! She has either been smoking outside or right beside one of our big, open windows today. She hasn't even commented on it or made a fuss about it when she went outside with Carl - I'm so relieved that this didn't turn into a nasty war between her and I. I am, however, greatly dissapointed and angry that she had to be cut down to size by our shop steward representative before she'd take her cigarette smoke elsewhere.

So everything's good at the moment - I can finally do my job properly now and enjoy being at work. There are two possible obstacles though; one is Birgit - I wonder what she'll say about all this when she gets back from her vacation. I think she'll be co-operative, though but one never knows.
And the other is when winter comes. If they start smoking around me again then I guess I'll try to remind them about my migraine at first and if that doesn't help, get Erik to help me again.

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

little_tippler

Can I just point out that this person, Helle, is probably going to be a problem in future. I mean, what the hell does saying you get migraines have to do with a job interview? Isn't that called discrimination? When winter comes around, I think you'll have trouble with her.

I think that if you were asking them to stop doing a particular thing for an unreasonable mitve, fine, but it's not. Smoking is bad for people's health and even if you don't get migraines, I don't see why it should be allowed in an open-plan work place, if it's harmful to others (not even going to talk about annoying here).

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

Nancy

It certainly is not! But some people just don't get that


Oh I will!

I don't think that our current managing director will enforce an earlier ban - he seems to be too much of a chicken to do that. They've signed a contract with a new managing director and he'll start in October - perhaps he will enforce one. I doubt it though. It doesn't matter anyways because even though I'm still exposed to cigarette smoke when I walk around in the other departments, it's the smoke in my particular one that is the real problem as I sit there for 7 hours a day. I can live with this arrangement until the ban kicks in officially in April.



True! And what really pisses me off about her reluctance to pay regards to my migraine problem is that it really is of no inconvenience for her to do so. She only needs to go 2,5 metres in one direction in order to reach the doors leading outside or 15 metres in the other direction in order to reach the big printing room.


Quit and sit around the house all day, smoking? Hell if I know.. or care.

I doubt that compliance will be of any problem once the government ban goes into effect. After all they'll have no more say in this matter when their smoking has suddenly become illegal.









Allthough it's tempting to try all your suggestions just to see their reaction, I'm not going to. It would be childish of me to give them tit for tat like that. I'd much more just grab the bull by the horns and get the problem solved permanently instead.

I would like to thank you all for your advice and support everybody - and for those funny remarks too. It really meant a lot to me. You people actually succeed in making me happy at the end of an otherwise crappy day.

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

thingstodo

I'm really surprised that there are any offices that allow smoking these days. I live in Michigan and you see people outside offices all the time smoking in the winter. Crazy! Ad you can't even smoke in a bar in many cities. I also heard that Marriott, like several other chains, is going smoke-free soon.

__________________
If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

Pip

What can you expect of a country where the Queen is a notorious chain-smoker? It's horrible, Nancy, I really feel sorry for you having to work in that kind of environment. You seem to do things by the book however, so all I can say is keep up the good work. Helle seems like one who places great value in seniority and rank - you as a newly-hired did obviously not impress an old hand like her, but the bossman sure did. Sad, but that's the way some people are.

Zeraph

Guess I'm too late to give any advice. I'm glad everything worked out, Nancy.

Nancy

It would be very unlikely. Even though we do not have a law against it, there are only a few places left where smoking is allowed. This is actually the first place with such a smoking policy I’ve ever worked at.

The current upper management may be shitty but I have to tough it through. I have no other choice if I want to get enough training for my upcoming final exam this december. But apart from this problem with the smokers, I’m happy to be working here.


That’s illegal here too. Luckily I may not have to take this to the big boss as Eric seems to have fixed the problem


Oh I won’t. I’m a reasonable woman after all.
I’ll give Helle som time to adjust as I did with Carl. He kept forgetting it the first couple of days but I guess that’s to be expected since he’s been smoking indoors here for 35 years now - old habits die hard.

I can’t believe that your former co-worker actually bitched about you smoking in a smoking area?! If you take your cigarette smoke some place where it can’t harm others then no one can possibly ask more of you!

Yes I did... with Ege Tæpper There’s been nothing but problems, cut-backs and restrictions so far during my trainee program so I'll definitely can't wait til I’ll graduate!

The chance of me signing a contract with a new firm is practically non-existant. The competition among us media graphic artist trainees is fierce because training places are extremely scarce. This particular education requires 3 years of training and even though I've sent out hundreds of applications during the past 2½ years, I’ve only been able to sign contracts with two companies; Ege Tæpper and this place.


I agree completely, tippler! But somehow she doen’t see this as a problem. It’s as if she won’t acknowledge that her cigarette smoke is affecting me and causing my migraine attacks. Because if she did then she would’ve payed me regards immediately and without a fuss.

I too have a feeling that she may become a problem during the winter. But a lot could happen since then. Perhaps the new managing director will enforce a smoke ban in all departments shortly after the date of his hiring.
Maybe the National Health Service of Denmark will succeed in pressuring the Danish Government to make the law go into effect from January 1st instead.
Or maybe she’ll be so used to showing consideration that by the time when winter comes, she’ll go into the big printer room automatically.


Yes it is. Only people applying for jobs that involves responsability for other people's lives (=pilot/driver/doctors etc) may be questioned whether or not he suffers from an illness that may be of crucual consequence regarding his ability to perform his job. So I have no idea why she even asked about it..


So am I! I’m thoroughly disappointed that the Danish government hasn’t passed a law against smoking in public places a long time ago since we’ve known for years (decades?!) about the lethal consequences of passive smoking.


Indeed she is. And because of that I thought that she was going to be giving me the cold shoulder from now on but she has been surprisingly nice to me since Erik cut her down to size.


You and me both, my friend.

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

Seer666

Yeah, she did. But then again, she wasn't that bright. Dumber then a box of rocks is the term that comes to mind. But that is insulting to a box of rocks really.

__________________
Bad spellers of the world untie!!!

I am the one you warned me of

I seem to have misplaced the bullet with your name on it, but I have a whole box addressed to occupant.

Nancy

Update: Apparently this is far from over.

When Birgit got back from her vacation last monday she continued smoking indoors. Tuesday I asked her again if she would mind going outside and smoke - instead of answering my question she replied that she had told the safety representative about the problem and that we’d have to wait and see what kind of solution they would come up with. She then returned to work and lit up another smoke

Once Helle saw that Birgit was smoking inside, she started doing it too. So I spent the rest of that week breathing through my sweater each time they were both smoking.

Friday I received an E-mail from the guy who had hired me, asking me to step into his office. I looked forward to the conversation as I couldn’t wait to settle this mess once and for all. Through all this time I thought that once he or the safety representative learned about my problem that they’d take care of the problem immediately and pay regards to my health. But no.

He said that he didn’t want to enforce a smoking ban here; he didn’t like being the guy who got to tell other people what they could or could not do.

According to him, the smokers felt stepped on because of me (how the fuck do you think it makes me feel when my co-workers and boss won’t pay regards to my health?!) and he’d like to come up with some sort of solution which would consider the interests of both sides. His brilliant solution to the problem is this:

Place me in the other side of the room.

Like that’s suppose to make a huge difference?! If we’re in the same room, then I’ll still be inhaling their smoke, numbskull.

He said that he was going to talk to each of us in here, individually, about the problem to see if the others had some ideas for a solution that we could all live with.

But after talking to Erik about it during lunch today, it seems like the guy who hired me (numbskull) considers this matter to be closed because, apparently, he’s already decided that the solution to this problem is the one he came up with himself.

He’s got another thing coming, I tell you.

I refuse to put up with this crap. It’s not as if I’m making an unreasonable demand here. All I ask is that they move their asses and go 2,5 metres in one direction in order to reach the doors leading outside or 15 metres in the other direction in order to reach the big printing room every time they want to smoke. How hard can that be?!

I’m pissed at him and dissapointed about his way of handling this. I mean, this shit is making me sick - why would he even hesitate to make them smoke elsewhere when he knows that?!

When he gets in here in order to talk about which spot we should move my desk to I’m going to explain to him, again, that their smoke is making me sick and that his solution won’t help at all. And if he still won’t make them go someplace else to smoke, then I’ll take this matter to the safety representative and if she refuses to do anything about it, then I’ll have to contact my labor union.

*sigh*

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

pig

nancy,

good luck with this. it sucks to be the person who has to rock the boat at work, especially when you're new, but what the fuck are you supposed to do? see if they'll build you your own brand new office. ask him if they'll just move their desks about 2.5 metres...outside. regardless, good luck.

__________________
You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

Nancy

I guess it's worth a shot

__________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy.
I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

Redlemon

It's called BEING THE BOSS. That's why he's a boss -- it's to tell other people what they can or can't do. If he doesn't like making decisions that are tough on people, perhaps he should step down a position on the ladder.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.

shoegirl

It's not unreasonable at all. If the smokers know it's making you sick, you think that they'd at least try to be courteous and walk the few steps to the door. Good luck Nancy!

Jinn

AMEN! A boss and a parent are two roles you ONLY take if you can handle making decisions that wont make EVERYONE all warm-and-fuzzy. I hate limp-wristed assholes who somehow lucked themselves into a position of authority.

__________________
"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

little_tippler

This is so ridiculous it makes me furious. You are absolutely right not to take this lying down. What the hell are they thinking? I mean, their smoking is a vice. It's a bad habit and it bothers others. Not only does it bother others, but it harms others' health. So they should in no way be allowed to continue this way. If they want to smoke, they should do it in their own, private time. Not in their workplace. You know, maybe you should develop an annoying bad habit that harms their health too. We must think of something. I know it's petty but it may be the only way to get your point across.

As for your boss, he's a lame ass. He doesn't want to tell people what to do? Well maybe you should take it up with his boss and tell him you'd be happy to take the job - since your boss isn't willing to do what he's paid for!

__________________
Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

Crack

maybe she should take up 'hitting people with hammers' that's a pretty bad vice that harms people...hehe

__________________
Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex.

~Halx

ShaniFaye

So, when you asked them about smokers (which Im assuming you did because its allowed there and it does cause you a problem, if I were you it would have been the first thing out of my mouth...here it would be a mute point unless you were applying for a job in a bar) did the just out and out lie to you and tell that you'd be in a smoke free area?

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

krwlz

I'm sure Nancy will be able to field this, but comming from school, into work expirience myself... If the job sounds great, it gets you what you need for school, and it pays decent... Those other trivial details (especially smoking, which is no longer commonplace at work) kind of vanish in the light of excitment.

If I'm wrong, feel free to slap and correct me Nancy

ShaniFaye

but obviously its still common place there and Im interested in knowing what kind of responsibility Nancy took to ensure her health wouldnt be in harm.

It would be like me going to a family gathering where many of the people are diabetic and not questioning what I was eating because artificial sweetener is my main migraine trigger and just eating away and getting pissed off when I got one because the banana pudding I grabbed was made with equal, not sugar.

I just think there was responsibility on both sides here and its not fair to expect what is a "standard" in that office to be changed just because a new person came in without knowledge she should have gotten of her working environment.

__________________
I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!

Painted

I feel sorry for your plight, Nancy. Smoking is a very shitty habit, it hurts everyone.

However... your boss not wanting to enforce a new rule I can understand. The other people in the office have worked there for years, hasn't that one guy, Carl, worked there for 35 years? And if some new gal comes in and starts bitching about the smoke (that's how they see you) they are probably a little hesitant to directly comply with your demands.

If you were your boss, would you rather meet your employee of (i'm guessing here) 10 years' demands, or your employee of 1 month's demands? Yeah, you could make the argument that it's only 8 feet to the door, where they can smoke all they want. But, now lets say you're the employee of 10 years (who smokes), wouldn't you feel a little betrayed if suddenly your boss changes the rules just cause some new employee wanted him to?

If a person works at a place for 10 years, it is generally accepted that they have contributed greatly to the growth of the company during that time period. Thus, the demands of that employee are taken more seriously than an employee of only a month. It is considered bad business practice to treat long-term employees with the same respect as new employees. (Some places are actually like this, and these places you want to avoid)

level five

man, i couldn't agree with you more! there are far too many of both that are less than desireable in this world! there should be some sort of test.