User


smoking in the office... I can't breath!!!

bibo's picture

I work in a work station area... and the guy next to me is a HEAVY smoker...
I tried talking to him... but he is rude..
I sent 6 emails to HR, nothing..
I talked to the GM, nothing...

The smoking is horrible, he smokes all day and I am pregnant!!!

I know I can report him to authorities but I don't want to go this way as I still don't have my labor permit so I don't have a legal employment status at the company (I am under husband' sponsorship).

I can't breath.. my colleague has asthma and the poor thing, she is suffocating!

I even asked to move offices, or to install air purifiers... or to move this guy to a closed room!!!

NOTHING

I hold the company responsible for that. According to my colleagues, I am not the first to complain, they even escalated it to the Chairman but nothing has been done.

I feel so worried for my unborn... this is causing him harm and I feel helpless

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said bibo...I cannot believe this! ...

How could your management and HR ignore your plea in this manner? And isn't smoking strictly prohibited in workplaces?

Salam

 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said try doing something ...

that irritates him.


 

mjamille28's picture

mjamille28 said smoking inside the office? ...

smoking inside the office? that is just unacceptable.. what an inconsiderate ass.. i hope he chokes on his cigarette...

 

bibo's picture

bibo said Happy... ...

I myself cna't beleive it!!!
The HR keeps sending me replies: "We are confident the situation will change soon.", "We are working on this issue",... it's been 3 months now!!

This guy has been working in this company for ages... he is middle aged and old mentality, he is a manager ... and they are all smokers (not in the office though), so they don't take my complaint seriously...

If it means anything... I am in a senior managerial position! and no one is taking my complaint seriously! I am unfortunate to work in an open space, because of lack of closed rooms!!

 

Arien's picture

Arien said WTF!!! tell that idiot to go ...

WTF!!! tell that idiot to go out and smoke!!!
_____________________________________________

- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said DaRuDe ..I don't think that would solve it ...

I don't think that would solve it, he has no bit of sensitivity, ignorant and is a criminal.

bibo, can you buy your own fan or purifier and have it by your desk? open windows or sit close to your office door to get a draft?

Salam


 

mjamille28's picture

mjamille28 said "we are confident the ...

"we are confident the situation will change soon" (???) goodness me, what kind of a response is that! like hell it'll change... "we are working on this issue"... (3 months huh) geez, if that's how long they usually take (or longer) to resolve a simple issue as that, they must take gazillions of years to resolve a complicated one... unbelievable!

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said Oh bibo, you just mentioned ...

Oh bibo, you just mentioned you work in an open area, wouldn't that bring in more current into your own space, that's ought to refresh the still air?

Salam


 

bibo's picture

bibo said mjamille... ...

Believe me... last night, I was discussing this with my husband, I think I might just resign, with a big long formal resignation letter, sent to the labor department, explaining WHY I decided to quit my job.

I will be losing thousands... and in this period of recession, it doesn't make sense... but I just can't take it anymore...

with my pregnancy hormones, I feel I will end up "farting" in his face... but too bad, even farting is not as harming as smoking... lol...

 

bibo's picture

bibo said Oh happy... ...

I wish that... my office space is in the middle of nowhere... It looks like a room, but with separators not walls...
The whole office looks like an underground shelter... no windows at all!! the only light I get is from my precious neon bulbs... and the only air I get is from the AC ducts!
That's how bad it is

 

mjamille28's picture

mjamille28 said bibo, i think it's not worth ...

bibo, i think it's not worth staying on there if the concerned department doesn't seem to be doing something about it.. you are pregnant and you and your baby's health is more important.. if you do decide to resign, hope you find a more worthwhile job.. i hope that jerk really chokes and swallows his cigarette... yeah, farting is not as harmful as smoking, maybe if it was really smelly.. ;)

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said OMG! this isn't healthy, I ...

OMG! this isn't healthy, I know you're worried about the baby. I've been there before, and know first hand how it feels when an insensitive colleague stuffs your sinuses and eyes with this awful smoke.

Salam


 

messymiss's picture

messymiss said i hate smokers ...

i hate smokers too........its impossible to enter certain places without inhaling that sick foul odor

Pay peanuts & you get Monkeys

 

chmb's picture

chmb said How awful, sorry to hear - ...

How awful, sorry to hear - it's unbelievable how selfish some people can be - if they want to damage their own lungs go for it, but to put other people's health in harm is selfish. There should be a law against smoking in offices spaces like this, it's not fair the whole room has to suffer because of one persons habit. Can't believe the management are not taking it seriously..

 

snessy's picture

snessy said Bibo - I really feel for ...

Bibo - I really feel for you, have you confronted the guy? Is he a father? Ask him how he would feel if someone was smoking in close proximity to his wife if she was preggers.

 

laurana's picture

laurana said try to puke ...

all over his desk and then tell him is because cigarettes smoke. If it will not change anything do it again and again. I am sure he will not be able to resist....

 

cheesecake_28's picture

cheesecake_28 said well.... ...

i share the same situation, except that i am not pregnant...an officemate & I use the same room/office,as soon as i see him reaching for his lighter to start smoking, i stand up, take my mobile phone, my water/cup of coffee and leave, i sit somewhere else and i don't get intimidated if any of the higher management sees me...i simply say -"he's" smoking again and i won't allow myself to get sick cuz of that.


 

blue_rose's picture

blue_rose said yes smoking is prohibited in ...

yes smoking is prohibited in offices..

even in my office there is a fire alarm system ..if smoke of cigrette spread in room ..alarm is automatically started..

 

bibo's picture

bibo said Snessy... ...

This guy is obviously insensitive and selfish.. I have already tried speaking to him and his answer was: well, I don't promise you!!!

Laurana... what a lovely idea..... !!! suits me fine....
but I don't imagine myself working in this company anymore if I do it lol

Cheesecake: well... my guy smokes all day!!

 

polish's picture

polish said Put a notice on the wall ...

Put a notice on the wall infront of him that ' THANKS FOR NOT SMOKING'-or- smoking is forbidden in this area'.. lets see whether he has some common sence or not...

 

Bestheartman's picture

Bestheartman said Smoking is prohibited in ...

Smoking is prohibited in offices ---- if they are not carening u u also start not to care them --- go out after 2 Hrs. for 10 to 15 mints for fresh Air---- and if someone ask tell them all this ----

 

rheeza's picture

rheeza said eewwwhhh just can't breathe. ...

get a musk. :-X

 

Olive's picture

Olive said Bibo, Can I just ask what ...

Bibo, Can I just ask what your nationality is and what your co-workers is?

(Before anyone says nationality has nothing to do with blah blah blah, anyone who's been here for more then a nano-second knows that culturally different nationalities will respond differently to certain other nationalities and to women in general)

 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said Is smoking probhibited ...

in offices by law?


 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said Olive...Your question is irrelevant ...

Your question is irrelevant and will not provide any solution, it will only ignite the discussion.

Salam

 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said hmm next time ...

when you see him smoking get a cricket bat quick and smack the ciggy down his throat AND SHOUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW.


 

QaQc's picture

QaQc said get a fire extinguisher and ...

get a fire extinguisher and use it to that guy! lemme see if he will still smoke! lol

----------

Quality dude! Quality!

 

om Maui's picture

om Maui said Darude, it all depends on ...

Darude, it all depends on the company policy. My employer operates on a no-smoking environment. it is active in smoking cessation campaigns. but in respect to those who wish to smoke, there are designated areas for people who wish to smoke themselves to death.

the idea is respect the non-smokers. passive smoking is more dangerous, especially for one who is pregnant.

 

bibo's picture

bibo said Polish ...

I did that already... didn't work... but I might just send him an email explaining him the dangers of passive smoking... CCing HR, who knows?

Bestheartman and Darude ... I know it's prohibited by law, but we all know how things work inhere!

Rheeza: i got one, but it's suffocating me...

Olive: I am Lebanese.. he's Jordanian/ Palestinian.. yes I agree nationalities matter...


 

sir dolly's picture

sir dolly said wait until he's out of the office ... ...

and spray cyanide in his pack of cigarettes...
it works everytime i assure you...
serioulsy im a smoker myself...but i've never smoked inside the office , and when i finish my cigarette i avoid being near my colleaugues (which is very hard cause they're always trying to be close to me...can't resist my sex appeal...hehehehe...

************************************
I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise

 

jackmohan2007's picture

jackmohan2007 said Great get smoke detectors installed.... ...

Great get smoke detectors installed....during routine renovation time....the ones that start the sprinklers.....

But I guess the guy will get the sprinkler shut down :(

 

sir dolly's picture

sir dolly said what your lebanese?!?!?!? ...

give me that bastards ID number and i'll show him what he gets when messing around with a fellow lebanese woman...el akhou el char....!!!!!

************************************
I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise

 

tess_916's picture

tess_916 said What an inconsiderate ...

What an inconsiderate bas....rd! Hard as it may to quit the job, much better if you do so to keep you and the baby safe.

 

om Maui's picture

om Maui said bibo, am sorry for you. why ...

bibo, am sorry for you. why don't your husband pitch in, and speak to this guy in your behalf? you know, man to man talk.

 

Olive's picture

Olive said Ahhh Bibo, have you thought ...

Ahhh Bibo, have you thought about getting your husband to go in and talk to him man to man. As much as I hate to admit it, sometimes men here will only respond to another man. Especially as there won't be any language problems. If he doesn't listen to your husband get your husband to kick up a fuss with management.

 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said tit for tat ...

be friends with his wife and when you see she is pregnant you get her out with you for hours and smoke all that you can shesha cigggy weed etc.


 

tess_916's picture

tess_916 said It is also unbelievable and ...

It is also unbelievable and disgusting to know that the management isn't doing something about it despite the efforts to stop this jerk from smoking in the office. Bibo, Is there a plot to keep you out of there, with the connivance of this bast...rd? I could smell something fishy about it.

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said bibo, In your email to him ...

Send him an email, CC your direct boss and HR. Copy the provision of 2002 Law into your email. Add a paragraph that your physician has strongly advised against smoking because it's a health hazard to you and the baby.

Salam


 

_noms_'s picture

_noms_ said IDEAAAAA ::: As you are ...

IDEAAAAA ::: As you are already pregenant, Just Vomit on his workstation or atleast very near him,, & when this is raised to authorities,,just tell them..you can't tolerate that stinky old bastard smoking. ....& tell them not to blame you if the vomitting reoccurs if he's near u..... lets see what the management does!! or atleast he'l move away :P

btw,,,, don't you think this is deliberately ignored in order to move you out of office or persuade u to quit employement?? are all the same bunch of crooks ?!

~noms~
-----------------------------------------
"Before God we are all equally wise ' and equally foolish" - Albert Einstein


 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said Good Idea noms ...

now to vomit you need to do this trick.
get your fingers down your throat and make a loud noise so every one can hear you lol


 

bibo's picture

bibo said Happy... ...

I am thinking to do that... great civilized idea..

Om Maui and Olive: no, I don't wish my husband to get involved. My husband is the most decent man you'd ever meet and I don't want him to get insulted by this guy, right in my office space!!
Besides, I seriously don't think this is the way to solve this... male or female, I am a damn senior manager (and before being so, I am an employee and a human being!!!!) in this company and I deserve respect.

Tess: no, nothing is personal against me. Before me, many many complained... and nothing changed. There was a British lady who was working in my place.. and kept complaining with no response... she then resigned!!!

 

bibo's picture

bibo said hummm... ...

guys... the vomit idea is so tempting... but it's so not me!!!

Darude, believe me, I don't need to put my fingers down my throat to vomit... I am already trying so hard not to, everytime this lovely guy lights up a cigaret!

 

DaRuDe's picture

DaRuDe said ewwww ...

nasty you.
No you need to vomit so every one will notice it.
go give it a try. but wait before that have some heavy meal :D


 

sir dolly's picture

sir dolly said but maybe that smoker is irreplacable for the company... ...

she said that he had been with the company for ages...so that might backfire at her.... ur quite in a pickle...well i guess cyanide might be your only solution...
serioulsy , try to be extra good with him , come tomorrow with a strawberry cheese cake in ur hand , and after giving it to him , tell him: seriously , i need u to stop smoking in the office , ur hurting my baby,,,im sure there's a good man inside of him...
if not get back to cyanide plan :)

************************************
I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said bibo, If you can also rally others (quietly) ...

If you can also (quietly) rally other disgruntled co-workers against him, you may list their names in your email, and point out they consented. Or have them send their own emails to management and HR.

I know you don't want to hurt his feelings, but he's leaving you no choice, I see.

Talk to him first about your plans, as a friendly warning.

Salam


 

PuLover's picture

PuLover said you have the right to breath ...

you have the right to breath ..

we have the right to smoke !!

 

tess_916's picture

tess_916 said Yeah, why don't you and the ...

Yeah, why don't you and the rest of your officemates file a complaint against him, officially written down in black and white, with all your signatures on it.

 

bibo's picture

bibo said hummm... ...

Tess and Happy... don't want to start into a nationality debate... but the rest of my office mates (or at least those who ae seriously bothered) are too scared to do that, they are in junior positions and not Arabs, not Europeans/ Americans... and feel they are here to scarifice and make a living, which I respect. so, I don't want them to get into trouble.
If anything happens, I can gladly resign, but they can't afford it!!

 

phoenix2009's picture

phoenix2009 said bloody unrespectable smoker, ...

bloody unrespectable smoker, should really risk it and inform the authorities even though you'll be backfired, or at least spread a rumor that you going to inform about him, and if you are a senior manager can't you simply fire his a** out of the company?

you know, cut the crap civilization, just give me your work address and i'll get few fellow lebanese to kick the s**t out of his miserable a**

Yalla!

 

om Maui's picture

om Maui said how about an indefinite ...

how about an indefinite leave until they solve this smoking problem? if you are crucial to the company, it will hurt your management if you go on leave indefinitely. if you can afford it, then make your point stronger this time: you or put the smokers at their proper place. obviously, writing to anyone in your management is not working, so you need a far stronger stand on this one.

what is it with sir dolly and cyanide?! fyi, bibo is far too good a person to even think about poisoning somebody, (she can fancy it though :D)

take care of yourself, bibo.


 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said bibo ..No Co-Workers Then ...

I get the picture now, then keep the rest of the co-workers out of it. I thought there were other voices with you already to back you up.

Send him the email and talk to him privately, to just smoke outside, if there's no positive response, and you still feel abused, resort to you last option, BCT all parties concerned. Use a professional tone i.e no capital letters, exclamation and questions marks, infuriating language...etc( I'm sure you know that alright, just a reminder)

Salam

 

britexpat's picture

britexpat said or ...

You could just ask DaRuDe to go and have a word with him :O)

 

phoenix2009's picture

phoenix2009 said happy what is BCT?? Bankers ...

happy
what is BCT?? Bankers Confectioners and Tobacco workers union?? i mean that's what google told me :D

Yalla!

 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said hahaha, By Copy To..sorry.... ...

Salam

 

bibo's picture

bibo said Oh really... ...

I wish I can give all of you an enormous hug now..
Thank you for your support, advice, and humour..!!


 

qatarisun's picture

qatarisun said isn't it strictly prohibited ...

isn't it strictly prohibited in qatar to smoke at the offices??
I got an impression they don't consider themselves a third-world country??


*********************
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us."
Oliver Wendell Holmes


 

Happy Happy's picture

Happy Happy said I was just hugged by bibo...:) thanks habibti ...

I was just hugged by bibo...:) thanks habibti. Wishing you and your family the best.

Note: imagine if this colleague was on QL too, maybe he'd have a heart and stop on his own!

Salam


 

sir dolly's picture

sir dolly said tell me tomorrow what happened ...

************************************
I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise

 

nightwalker77's picture

nightwalker77 said Every time he starts smoking ...

Every time he starts smoking simply go sit in your Gm's office and say you cannot work until the smoke has cleared. He will get the point and do something. Also, talk to the head HR person everyday and say if nothing is fixed by the end of the week you will inform the authorities since it is against the law as Happy Happy stated. Make a fuss, but in a professional way. Be firm and persistent. Next time he lights up, go up to him tell him you have reported him for smoking since he is too lazy to take it outside and that it is against the law the authorities will be taking care of it. If that does not scare him into stopping, then REPORT HIM.

Don't just sit there, it is so harmful to you and your baby!

 

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