An Open Association of Landscape and Horticulture Industries
Smokers?
How many on the site spoil the benefits of our fresh air occupation by puffing away on those little portable bonfires.
My worst mistake was to start smoking, and one of my best decisions was to stop smoking many years ago.
It was also the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. John the smoker had to die, to live on into the future cough free.
Two years ago I caught the nasty cough virus that swept through Devon and I only just survived the two months of coughing that was resistant to antibiotics, cough medicine, vick and all homeopathic remedies.
Unable to sleep or talk without bouts of painful sputterings, I ended up losing my voice and had an endoscopy at the hospital to check for cancer of the larynx. An endoscopy is an unpleasant proceedure where a tube is inserted into the nose and pushed all the way down to the larynx. - And then pulled slowly back out with half of your brains on the end of it !!!
Sitting in the waiting room with all the patients discussing their throat cancer symptoms was a scary experience.
I prepared myself for the worst when the tube was pulled out, and thought about which cliff I would throw myself off.
To hear that I didn't have cancer of the larynx was the best thing I have ever heard.
I still believe that I would not have survived this episode if I had been a smoker, - but the lasting feeling that I retained from this, was just how alone those people felt, sitting in the hospital waiting room with throat cancer.
If you really want to give up, just wander in and sit there quietly.
It is tough for a while, but in the end it is so much easier.
My worst mistake was to start smoking, and one of my best decisions was to stop smoking many years ago.
It was also the hardest thing that I have ever had to do. John the smoker had to die, to live on into the future cough free.
Two years ago I caught the nasty cough virus that swept through Devon and I only just survived the two months of coughing that was resistant to antibiotics, cough medicine, vick and all homeopathic remedies.
Unable to sleep or talk without bouts of painful sputterings, I ended up losing my voice and had an endoscopy at the hospital to check for cancer of the larynx. An endoscopy is an unpleasant proceedure where a tube is inserted into the nose and pushed all the way down to the larynx. - And then pulled slowly back out with half of your brains on the end of it !!!
Sitting in the waiting room with all the patients discussing their throat cancer symptoms was a scary experience.
I prepared myself for the worst when the tube was pulled out, and thought about which cliff I would throw myself off.
To hear that I didn't have cancer of the larynx was the best thing I have ever heard.
I still believe that I would not have survived this episode if I had been a smoker, - but the lasting feeling that I retained from this, was just how alone those people felt, sitting in the hospital waiting room with throat cancer.
If you really want to give up, just wander in and sit there quietly.
It is tough for a while, but in the end it is so much easier.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kieran Ray on -
Im personaly not a smoker, never will be because I saw how my mum suffered before she gave up. aparently its because it sounded like I had a smokers cough, at the age of 2!
I do have a rule for site though as I employ smokers and that it is if they smoke do so off the property and not in my van! In some of the large gardens the customers dont mind as long as they cant see so hey can out of site but mainly thats a big no just like every one has to keep there top on whilst working, I just beleve it gives a more profesional look to the company,
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Permalink Reply by John www.acegardenservices.co.uk on -
I am afraid I am not as easy going, I refuse to allow anyone to smoke during work hours. Some have had to leave because of this and others have had to give up completely.
It is only by completely giving up that you realise that you feel so much better and that you do need to smoke to feel ok.
Pro Gard said:Well done John. Thankfully i never started.
I find when on holiday and climbing / walking over distance I can easily out pace most smokers in terms of stamina even those who fancy themselves as fitness types.
Personally I have no issue with employees smoking as long as they can maintain a good working pace without taking excess breaks and do not drop dog ends.
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Permalink Reply by Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care on -
Once heard someone describe smoking in public as being like having a pee while you are in the local swimming baths - quite pleasant for the person doing it, but not so pleasant for the anyone in the immediate vicinity !
Call me an a tyrant, but it winds me up a bit people who have a smoke break while they are working as customers are paying for their time.
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Permalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on -
It's odd that out of all the rules and reg regarding employment etc, specifying an non smoker is still allowed when advertising for workers. However unless you add the words, fat, unfit, old, sex etc..
Don't have any issues with smokers, perfer non smokers as it will help me stop :-) But don't normally allow smoking on clients premises etc.
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Permalink Reply by Angela Palmerton on -
I'm a smoker, but don't allow any of my team to smoke on the job. A quickie in the van with a cuppa (as it were!) is all they're (and I) am allowed. It just looks so unprofessional in someone else's garden.
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Permalink Reply by Geoffrey King North Yorkshire on -
That's interesting, I was wondering whether to declare that we were Non Smokers on our website. I have refused to go inside customer's houses if they smoke, I just can't bear it. Normally they get the hump, I don't care. I spent many years being subjected to other people's smoking, whislt working in Builder's Merchant's, being Asthmatic, that became untenable, hence I work outside now and self-employed.
Steven bowers said:My company also operates a NON SMOKING policy, and non of my team smoke ether, and this advertised on my site also attracts non smoking customers too... 76% of customers have been non smokers this year! and the age old...you could get hit by a bus line..myself ill take the chance instead of dying slowly..!
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Permalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on -
Smoking is a choice and not something people are 'stuck' with, unlike being fat, male/female, old etc.
I don't smoke and wouldn't want to work with someone who smokes on site. I don't have an issue with clients who smoke and will go in their house IF they are not smoking at the time! If they are I make a polite excuse to go outside, check the job over etc!
Graeme @ The BGS Group said:It's odd that out of all the rules and reg regarding employment etc, specifying an non smoker is still allowed when advertising for workers. However unless you add the words, fat, unfit, old, sex etc..
Don't have any issues with smokers, perfer non smokers as it will help me stop :-) But don't normally allow smoking on clients premises etc.
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Permalink Reply by Emma Gould on -
I used to be a smoker from age 11 till I fell pregnant at 21 I gave up but re started after having my son but only for a few weeks. I have now been smoke free for coming up 2 years.
I have nothing against people smoking around me as long as we are in the open I will not tolerate smokers lighting up in my house I dont care how bad the weather is outside. I made a chioice to give up and I choose to not have smoke around me or my children.
I just get annoyed when I go up my mums and she sits there with a ciggy but then I cant say anything as it is her house I just stand on the other side of the room.
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Permalink Reply by Pip Howard on -
Having just come in from having a lucky strike in the fresh morning air to read the LJ story and then this thread initially left me feeling a little guilty. I don't like being a smoker and want to give up eventually but as with many never quite find the opportunity. This a great thread, (there have been a number of really good forums of late) and as a smoker I agree that there is an issue. I would always ask a client if they mind me smoking in a manner which shows that I am genuine about not doing so if wished on their property - indeed I feel that the more issues communicated on the better - For many my two pet hates are workers with radios blaring away and the tops off in summer issue, which to other LJN members may seem completely bizarre . But there two factors I believe need more clarification following what has been said above:
To not hire someone because they are a smoker is treading on thin ice legally, it can be stated that no smoking on the property, vans or within the vicinty of fellow workers is allowed, but to discriminate against anyone on any grounds is not a good policy.
Secondly the crafty fag in the van is where you actually commit an offence, even if the van is parked up with windows open it is still classified as a workplace and as such is illegal.
I am getting used to sneaking off to have a quiet fag away from anyone who may find it offensive and bizarrely this is becoming an attraction in itself - a time to stop and stare, ponder and view the landscape as a whole before a rasping cough and return to work.
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Permalink Reply by Richard@www.seasons-garden.co.uk on -
Personally I'm a smoker (roll ups) and I do smoke whilst at work. If you're taking 'breaks' to have a smoke then of course these add up & make you less productive but smoking whilst working is fine.
None of my customers seem to mind. I am after all out in the open and always take the 'dog ends' home with me.
I've never had a problem with employing people who smoke. Come to think of it, I think they all smoked. Usual rules apply - e.g. no leaning on spades puffing away - be discrete - use common sense.
Having said all that, yes I do intend to quit.
Pip Howard said:Having just come in from having a lucky strike in the fresh morning air to read the LJ story and then this thread initially left me feeling a little guilty. I don't like being a smoker and want to give up eventually but as with many never quite find the opportunity. This a great thread, (there have been a number of really good forums of late) and as a smoker I agree that there is an issue. I would always ask a client if they mind me smoking in a manner which shows that I am genuine about not doing so if wished on their property - indeed I feel that the more issues communicated on the better - For many my two pet hates are workers with radios blaring away and the tops off in summer issue, which to other LJN members may seem completely bizarre . But there two factors I believe need more clarification following what has been said above:
To not hire someone because they are a smoker is treading on thin ice legally, it can be stated that no smoking on the property, vans or within the vicinty of fellow workers is allowed, but to discriminate against anyone on any grounds is not a good policy.
Secondly the crafty fag in the van is where you actually commit an offence, even if the van is parked up with windows open it is still classified as a workplace and as such is illegal.
I am getting used to sneaking off to have a quiet fag away from anyone who may find it offensive and bizarrely this is becoming an attraction in itself - a time to stop and stare, ponder and view the landscape as a whole before a rasping cough and return to work.
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Permalink Reply by John www.acegardenservices.co.uk on
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How many people here on the site have actually managed to give up, - and by what method?
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Permalink Reply by Debbie Britten on -
Well - what an interesting topic!!
Personally I have alsways smoked at work. Part of the reason I stopped working in an office. Customers like giving me cups of tea, and I never go in their house to drink it - outside with a fag thanks!! All my customers have always known I smoke, and I don't extract the michael. 1 an hour, and 5 mins per fag added to the end of the job. I also like my radio loud - sorry - but promise I never work topless!!!!
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